May 2, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The U.S. Women's National Team with Penn State head coach Erica Walsh on the sideline defeated Australia (3-2) in dramatic fashion on April 27 in the first of three games being played on American soil for the Beijing-bound squad. The U.S. Team meets Austrailia again this Saturday, May 3, in a Fox Soccer Channel match live from Birmingham at 5 p.m. ET.
The first game vs. Austrailia, which was delayed an hour due to heavy rain and thunderstorms concluded with three goals in the last six minutes, thrilling spectators. A goal from Natasha Kai followed by another one from Abby Wambach gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead. Not leaving without a fight, Australia scored twice in three minutes, quickly tying the game. An error from the Australian goalkeeper, Lydia Williams, set the stage for Carli Lloyd's game winning goal. The win marks the first domestic victory for head coach Pia Sundhage and improves the team's record to 11-0-1.
The two teams are slated to meet again on Saturday, May 3, in Birmingham, Ala., at the famed Legion Field, kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel. Following Birmingham, Team USA will travel to Washington, D.C., to face Penn State All-America alumna Erin McLeod and the Canadian National Team in a re-match of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying championship game. Game time is May 10 at 7 p.m. ET at RFK Stadium.
Walsh is the first Penn State women's soccer coach in program history to attain a spot on the U.S.'s Olympic coaching staff. In her first year at Penn State this past fall, she guided the Nittany Lions to their 10th consecutive Big Ten championship.
--NITTANY LIONS--