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Ruth Harker (born June 28, 1963) is an American former soccer player who played as a goalkeeper, making three appearances for the United States women’s national team.
After reaching the semi-finals of the USASA National Women’s Amateur with the Busch Soccer Dome club team in 1984 and 1985, Harker was invited to the 1985 U.S. Olympic Festival. She was chosen as one of the most valuable players at the Olympic Festival and was selected to play in the first matches of the United States women’s national team. She made her international debut for the U.S. on August 21, 1985, at the Mundialito against Denmark, coming on as a substitute for Kim Wyant. She earned her second cap two days later against England. Her final appearance came on August 24 in a rematch against Denmark.
In 2014, Harker’s 1981 and 1982 women’s soccer teams were inducted into the UMSL Sports Hall of Fame. In 2019, she was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame. Harker herself was inducted into the UMSL Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
Ruth Harker on Flame Bearers’ Instagram
“MY FIRST SOCCER MEMORY
IS BEING IN GOAL AND THE BALL BOUNCED IN FRONT OF ME AND RIGHT OVER MY HEAD.
I REMEMBER THINKING, ‘I HATE THIS GAME.’ “
Flame Bearers is the first global storytelling platform, illuminating the unsung stories of resilient women Olympians & Paralympians. We are a community driving positive change, building connections, and creating a space where women athletes feel valued and empowered to share their stories. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events, giving women Olympians & Paralympians a platform to share their trials and triumphs, discuss what life is like outside the games, what matters most to them, and bring unique perspectives to their stories. These stories deserve to be heard. Because they inspire us, help us to understand the world better, and move us to tap into our own resilience.