Sophomore Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher Travels to Cyprus with the U.S. U-20 Women's National Soccer TeamSophomore Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher Travels to Cyprus with the U.S. U-20 Women's National Soccer Team

Sophomore Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher Travels to Cyprus with the U.S. U-20 Women's National Soccer Team

March 3, 2008

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) is currently traveling with the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Soccer Team to Cyprus for the Cyprus Women's Cup 2008. The tournament will feature five full women's national teams in addition to the U.S. U-20s.

Naeher and the U-20s are part of Group 2, which also includes the Netherlands and Scotland starting on March 5. The U.S. Under-20 team will also compete against Russia in a non-tournament match on March 7. Placement Matches will be played on March 12.

This will be Naeher's second tournament with the team this year as it continues prepare for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She recently competed in the Four Nations Tournament in Chile, which the U.S. won. Naeher started games against England and Norway. Naeher will be one of two goalkeepers on the trip to Cyrus, and is the only one making her second-straight trip.

Naeher finished the 2007 season with 103 saves and a 0.62 goals against average (ranked 18th nationally), and 0.39 goals against average in conference.

In addition to being named to the U-20 Women's National Team, Naeher was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, earned first team NSCAA All-America, first team All-Great Lakes Region, first team All-Big Ten honors and second team MVP honors from Soccer America. She was also named team MVP at the annual Penn State soccer banquet.

Cyprus Women's Cup
Group 1
Canada
Japan
Russia

Group 2
Netherlands
USA U-20
Scotland

Cyprus Women's Cup 2008 Schedule
Date: Match-Up (Venue)
March 5: USA U-20 vs. Scotland (GSZ/Larnaca)
Canada vs. Russia (GSZ/Larnaca)
Japan vs. Netherlands* (Alpha Sports Center)

March 7: Japan vs. Canada (GSZ/Larnaca)
Netherlands vs. Scotland(GSZ/Larnaca)
USA U-20 vs. Russia* (Alpha Sports Center)

March 10: USA U-20 vs. Netherlands (GSZ/Larnaca)
Russia vs. Japan (Dasaki/Achna)
Canada vs. Scotland* (Alpha Sports Center)

Placement Matches March 12: 5th Place Match (GSP/Nicosia)
3rd Place Match (GSP/Nicosia)
Championship (GSP/Nicosia)

*Non-tournament match

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