Heather Mitts, Philadelphia Charge (Credit: Allsport)
PHILADELPHIA (April 5, 2002) –- Charge defender Heather Mitts is not one to shy away from superstition. While most people have triskadekophobia (fear of the number 13), Mitts wears the jersey because that number actually brings her luck.

"When I was younger, I chose number 13 at a carnival, and I ended up winning 50 bucks," Mitts recalled. "At that point in my life, that was a lot of money so it became my lucky number."

She has worn the number ever since, except during college, and was more than glad to put it on last season when she became one of the rising young defenders in the league.

"Heather did a great job of defending for Philadelphia last year, as well as contributing to the attack," said WUSA Commissioner Tony DiCicco. "(Philadelphia head coach) Mark Krikorian has done an excellent job of molding a group of young players into winners. I believe you can go team-to-team and find an emerging star like Heather that will be playing for the women's national team."

In her first professional season, Mitts played in 93 percent of the total minutes for the regular season, emerging as the ironwoman of the team. She was a part of a Charge defense that allowed just 28 goals in 21 games.

While the Charge's dreams of playing for the championship were dashed with a loss to Atlanta in the playoffs, Mitts' performance earned her a spot on the U.S. women's national team for the Nike U.S. Cup in September. That dream was derailed, however, by one of Mitts' unlucky breaks in the offseason.

After earning her second cap against Germany on September 9, the rest of the tournament was postponed by the September 11 attacks. Then, Mitts' knee began to bother her last fall, and doctors were stumped as to what the problem was.

Mitts never had knee problems when she was at college at the University of Florida, and she had stayed healthy during the WUSA season. The offseason became very frustrating for the Cincinnati native because of the inability to train.

"My knee was bothering me and we could not figure out for almost three months (what the problem was),” Mitts said. “I was told different things from different doctors, and finally it ended up just being tight muscles -- really simple -- I wish they would have figured it out earlier, but it was kind of a big setback for me."

Mitts certainly would have gone to China for the Four Nation's Women's tournament in January with the U.S. national team, but her knee kept her from joining the training camp.

"It was kind of sad because I was invited to national camp," she said. "And it was one of my goals to be there, but I was unable to participate because of my injury."

The offseason was not as productive as it could have been for Mitts, but the coaches and trainers in Philadelphia have her close to 100 percent for the start of the season. Mitts regrets missing the time with the national team but is focused on the season ahead for the Charge.

"I did a lot of rehab,” Mitts said. “It was not fun. I rode the bike a lot and tried to get better. I got better and then I got hurt again. It was really kind of devastating, but now I am back here now and healthy and that is all that really matters.”

With veteran German defender Doris Fitschen retiring after last season and an injury to Erica Iverson, Mitts becomes an even more important player on the Charge's backline.

Along with Jennifer Tietjen and Jenny Benson, Mitts will form a new defense with rookie and fellow Florida grad Karyn Hall. Krikorian has also instituted a new formation that will push Mitts farther into the midfield, which she is confident she can handle.

"Karyn Hall is doing a nice job of stepping up,” Mitts said. “We are still getting used to one other. Obviously, Erica Iverson was the one who stepped up when Doris was not there last year. As far as our communication goes, if that is there, then I think we will be strong in the back again."

Krikorian has faith that Mitts will respond to the new challenge as long as she can step up her intensity.

"If we can get her to be a little more aggressive and continue to work on the areas that she needs, she is going to be fine," he said.

Mitts feels she can build on the success of last season, and now that she is healthy again, will be able to lead the Charge to the Founder's Cup.

"I thought I had a pretty good season coming in, and I obviously want to come out here and have another great season, not only for myself, but for my team,” she said. “And to get to that final game – I felt like we should have been there last year. My confidence has to be there and I am going to try and be more of an attacking personality for my team."