June 17, 2008

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As the summer gets into full swing a few of the current Penn State women's soccer players are in Puebla, Mexico competing for their homelands rather than their schools for a chance at a trip to Chile for the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup in November. On the other side of the world head coach Erica Walsh and former standout Erin McLeod (2004-05) are helping lead their respective squads to what looks like a meeting in the championship game of the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea.

U.S. Women's National Team
Walsh, an assistant on the U.S. Women's National Team, is two games into the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea with two games remaining. The team, which is without PSU alumna Ali Krieger (2003-06) due to her club team requirements, has gotten off to a great start with a 2-1 victory over Australia and a 1-0 win against Brazil.

The U.S. squad needs only a tie against Italy on Thursday to advance to the championship game on June 21st against likely foe Canada, who is on top of the Group B standings.

Canadian Women's National Team
On the Canadian front, McLeod led her squad to an opening round shutout of Argentina, 5-0. McLeod got the win and got a rest in the next game as Canada defeated host Korea Republic 3-1. The Canadians' next game is Thursday against New Zealand and they only need a tie to advance to the championship game.

U.S. U-20 Women's National Team
Junior Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) and freshman Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.) were among 20 players selected to compete for the U.S. in its quest to qualify for the 2008 FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup. Naeher and Nairn traveled to Puebla, Mexico this past week to begin the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament.

The U.S. is part of Group A and will begin play tomorrow, June 18, against Trinidad & Tobago at 2 p.m. They will then take on Cuba on June 20 at 2 p.m. followed by Mexico on the 22 at 3:30 p.m. The top two teams from each group then advance to the semifinals on June 25 and eventually the championship game and third place match on June 28.

The top three finishers will qualify for the 2008 World Cup held in Chile from Nov. 19 through Dec. 7.

Naeher has gone 5-1-0 so far this year with the U-20 team and is likely to start every game in goal for the Americans. Nairn on the other hand is one of just two players selected out of high school and will compete for time in the midfield.

Canada's U-20 Women's National Team
Incoming freshman Lexi Marton (Aurora, Ontario) was selected as one of the 20 players to compete for the Canadian side at the CONCACAF U-20 Qualifying Tournament. She has spent time this summer training and competing with the full National Team squad in Canada but now is trying to help her country compete for the 2008 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The Canadian squad begins play today at 2 p.m. against Nicaragua. They then battle Jamaica on June 19 at 2 p.m. and Costa Rica on June 21 at 3:30 p.m.

You can follow all the mentioned teams on either ussoccer.com or canadasoccer.com.

10/03/08 - 10/05/08 - Highlights vs. Northwestern and Wisconsin
09/28/08 - Highlights vs. Portland
09/07/08 - Highlights vs. Bucknell
08/31/08 - Highlights vs. Hofstra