April 8, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Numerous Nittany Lions are keeping busy this spring not just with their schedule at Penn State, but also with the U.S. National Team squads. Highlighted by head coach Erica Walsh's stint with the staff of the U.S. Women's National Team, currently in the process of qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Alyssa Naeher and Katie Schoepfer have also spent time with the U-20 and U-23 team, respectively, this spring.
Currently, junior Melissa Hayes is with the Under-20 team training in California while Schoepfer prepares to head to Portland next week with the Under-23 squad for training camp.
Walsh is still in Mexico for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournamen. With wins over Jamaica and Mexico in front of a sold-out home crowd, the U.S. plays Costa Rica on April 9 in the semi-finals. The winner will earn both a spot in the finals and a berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
A new face for Penn State fans this fall, incoming freshman Christine Nairn was recently in Spain with the Under-18 Women's National Team where the team competed in the La Manga U-19 International Women's Tournament. Nairn was in the starting line-up as they defeated Sweden and Norway and tied France. With the tie, they earned second place behind Italy's U-19s.
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