April 12, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying tournament, the U.S. Women's National Team- with Penn State head coach Erica Walsh on the bench as an assistant coach- qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games on April 9. A 6-5 win over rival Canada (and Penn State alumna Erin McLeod) in penalty kicks Saturday then grabbed the tournament championship for Walsh and the U.S. Team.
Canada also qualified for the Olympics with their finals appearance at the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. A fixture for the Canadian National Team, McLeod seems a likely choice for the 2008 games. Her inclusion on the roster would mark the first time a Penn State women's soccer player has been in the mix for the Olympics since four-time All-American and Hermann Trophy winner Christie Welsh was named the alternate for the 2000 Athens Games.
Walsh is the first Penn State women's soccer coach to represent the Nittany Lions in the Olympic Games.
--NITTANY LIONS--