May 20, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's soccer presence on the different international teams remains strong as the different tournaments approach and the teams continue to be narrowed down. PSU now has two alumni and two current players on different rosters throughout North America.
U.S. Women's National Team
Penn State head coach Erica Walsh, who serves as an assistant coach on the U.S. Women's National Team, headed to Carson, Calif. this past weekend to begin a two-week camp at the Home Depot Center. U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage, with assistance from Walsh and the other coaches, will narrow down the 27 person roster to 20 by the end of the two week camp.
Among the 27 players invited to the camp is Penn State alumna and former All-American Ali Krieger (2003-06). Krieger will join camp on May 25 following obligations with her professional team in Germany, FFC Frankfurt. Krieger has played in two international contests with the U.S. National Team dating back to January at the Four Nations Tournament in China. She is one of nine defenders that were brought into the camp with hopes of securing a spot for the 2008 Peace Queen Cup in South Korea June 15-19.
Canadian Women's National Team
The Canadian National Team features former Nittany Lion Erin McLeod (2004-05). McLeod is Canada's usual starter at goalkeeper and has numerous starts on the international circuit.
McLeod was named to the 18-person roster headed to Australia this week to take on the Australian National Team on May 23. She was a major part of the Canadian Team qualifying for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing becoming the first team in 24 years to do so from Canada and first women's team in Canadian history.
U.S. U-20 Women's National Team
Junior Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) and freshman Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.) continue to train in Clemson, S.C. Head coach Tony DiCicco of the U-20 Women's National Team is holding a two-week training camp from May 12-27 to prepare the team for CONCACAF Qualifying in June. Only 26 players were invited to the camp including Naeher and Nairn. The team has scheduled a May 22 match-up against the USL W-League Atlanta Silverbacks and plans on several other scrimmages throughout the two-week camp.
The team recently learned who their opponents will be in the 2008 CONCACAF Women's Championship. The team will be a part of Group A which includes Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico beginning June 17 in Puebla, Mexico. The tournament will consist of two groups of four teams with the top three teams earning a spot in the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile from Nov. 19 to Dec. 7.
This will be only the second time the Women's U-20 team has competed in this event winning the inaugural tournament in 2006. Prior to 2006, CONCACAF hosted U-19 qualifying tournaments.