In an era long before women had pro soccer opportunities, Mary Harvey embarking on a career in the financial tech world led to her becoming a world champion goalkeeper.
Her stellar career with the Cal Bears ended in 1986 — five years before the inaugural Women’s World Cup in China.
She joined the San Francisco accounting firm Arthur Andersen (now Accenture) — then volunteered to join its four-year project in Frankfurt, West Germany, to create a fully electronic stock options and financial futures exchange.
Frankfurt, Germany’s financial center, was also home to FSV Frankfurt, one of the first German clubs to embrace women’s soccer.
“I had basically come to terms with my playing career ending,” said Harvey. “There was no real way to play.”
No matter how promising the talent of former collegiate stars, only the core national team players had playing opportunities.
“Work took me overseas, and then I missed playing,” said Harvey. “Here I am in soccer-crazy Germany — 1988, 1989, and their men’s team is preparing to win the 1990 World Cup in Italy. So I did some research and found out there was a really good club in Frankfurt.”
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