June 9, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As the Olympics and U-20 World Cup tournaments approach Penn State's presence remains high on the U.S. and Canadian front. Two former Nittany Lions, three current players and head coach Erica Walsh all continue to train for their upcoming competitions.
U.S. Women's National Team
Walsh, along with the members of the U.S. Women's National Team, are in the midst of training for the 2008 Peace Queen Cup in South Korea that begins July 15. Head coach Pia Sundhage narrowed the U.S. roster down to 21 players who will take part in the Peace Queen Cup. One familiar face missing from that roster is Penn State Alumna Ali Krieger (2003-06) who had to return to Germany to fulfill her club team requirements with FCC Frankfurt. Out of the 22 players, including Krieger, Sundhage, along with Walsh and the other assistants, will choose the 18 players who will represent the U.S. in the 2008 Olympics in August.
In the most recent FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings the U.S. team was ranked number one headed into the Olympic Games.
Canadian Women's National Team
On the Canadian front, former PSU standout Erin McLeod (2004-05) has been the anchor at goalkeeper for the Canucks. She has made 43 appearances for the Canadians since 2002 when she was first called up to the senior team.
Penn State incoming freshman Lexi Marton (Aurora, Ontario) has also been training with both the senior national team as well as the U-20 squad. Her most recent appearance on the field came with the U-20 team as they took on Mexico in Indiana as part of their training for the U-20 World Cup on May 3. She played 89 minutes while helping Canada to a 3-0 victory. She has also made six appearances with the senior team this year.
U.S. U-20 Women's National Team
Junior Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) and freshman Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.) headed to Park City, Utah on Sunday to begin six-day camp in preparation for the CONCACAF Qualifying tournament in Mexico on June 18. The tournament will take place in Puebla, Mexico which is located just above 7,000 feet above sea-level. Park City is located just below 7,000 feet above sea-level and will serve as a good training ground for the team's conditioning.
Naeher and Nairn are among 24 women called to the camp. Head coach Tony DiCicco is faced with the task of narrowing down the roster to 20 prior to the tournament in Mexico. The four who are not chosen will travel as alternates just in case of injury or unseen circumstances. Nairn is the third youngest player on the squad while Naeher is the fourth oldest.