USL Alumni International Round-Up
January 26, 2006 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
It has been a busy couple weeks on the international scene for USL alumni with the US Women winning the Four Nations tournament in China, the US and Canadian U-20 Women qualifying in Mexico for the World Championship later in the year in Russia and the US and Canadian men's sides playing to a scoreless stalemate in a friendly.
US Women
The US Women captured the Four Nations title Sunday with a 2-0 victory over China, finishing the three-game series 2-0-1. Former W-League player Kristine Lilly (Delaware Genies 1998) scored her second and third goals of the tournament in the win after receiving her landmark 300th cap in the first game of the tournament.
All five US goals came courtesy of W-League alumni with Shannon Boxx (Boston Renegades 1999) and Abby Wambach (Rochester Ravens 1998) joining Lilly on the scoring summary in their 3-1 win over Norway in the opener. They played France to a scoreless draw in the second match.
Boxx, Amy LePeilbet (Arizona Heatwave 2003, 2005), Tina Frimpong (Seattle Sounders 2003-05), Christie Rampone (New Jersey Lady Stallions 1998) and Heather Mitts (Central Florida Kraze 2005) anchored the back line, which allowed a tournament-low one goal. At least eight W-League alumni started each match with at least 10 seeing action in each game.
US & Canada: U-20 CONCACAF Women's Qualifying Tournament
The U-20 Women's National Teams for the US and Canada, meanwhile, have qualified for the upcoming FIFA World Championship in Russia in August, advancing to the CONCACAF Final Qualifying Tournament's final this Friday with semifinal victories Wednesday. The top three teams from the tournament advance to the World Championship.
Canada swept through their group 3-0-0 and downed Jamaica in the semifinal to earn their spot with W-League players accounting for 14 of their 18 goals. W-League players made 33 starts over the course of the first four games for Canada with at least eight starters in each match.
Canada opened with a 7-0 drubbing of Trinidad & Tobago with Lisa Collison (Toronto Inferno 2004), Veronique Maranda (Ottawa Fury 2005), Aysha Jamani (Edmonton Aviators 2004) and Jodi-Ann Robinson (Vancouver Whitecaps 2005) providing a 4-0 halftime lead. Robinson continued to dominate, tallying a hat-trick in their second outing along with another strike from Jamani to down Panama 6-0. They wrapped up group play with senior international and Vancouver Whitecap Kara Lang registering her first appearance and goal of the tournament in a 3-2 win over Mexico. Fellow Whitecap Sophie Schmidt, who served as captain for the tournament, added to Lang's first-minute opener with two scores in the win. Tied 1-1 with Jamaica in the semi, Collison returned to the scoring table with the game-winner. Selenia Iacchelli (Edmonton Aviators 2004) scored the opener.
The US U-20's dominated as well with three W-League players in its roster, opening with a 4-1 win over Jamaica in which Lindsay Beam (Charlotte Lady Eagles 2002-04) registered an assist. Beam started two of the four matches as the US spread the playing time around greatly amongst its roster for the tournament. Jessica Rostedt (Cleveland Internationals 2004-05) helped lead the US to a 4-0 win over Surinam in the second game with an assist on the opening tally and put the third match out of reach with the final two strikes of a 5-0 win over El Salvador. Nikki Krzsik (New York Magic 2004, New Jersey Lady Stallions 2002-04) anchored the defense, serving as captain in all three starts.
The US and Canada will square off for CONCACAF bragging rights Friday in Veracruz, Mexico at 4:00 pm ET. Fans can follow the game at on the Match Tracker at www.ussoccer.com.
US & Canada: Men's Friendly
In a senior men's friendly between the US and Canada Sunday 16 USL alumni started for the two squads with 20 seeing action by the final whistle of the scoreless affair. Former Orange County Wave goalkeeper Matt Reis made his first appearance with the US as one of six USL players to start the game. Former Super Y-League player for DC United Freddy Adu also made his first appearance, coming on as a sub in the 81st minute to become the youngest player to debut with the team at 16 years, 234 days.
Ten of the 11 starters for Canada were from USL with current two-time USL First Division Goalkeeper of the Year and 2004 league MVP Greg Sutton of the Montreal Impact providing the clean sheet. Impact teammates Adam Braz and Gabriel Gervais, a two-time USL-1 Defender of the Year, helped lead a back line to the shutout that also included former veteran Toronto Lynx players Marco Reda (1998-2002) and Adrian Serioux (1999-2004).
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USL First Division Stories from January 26, 2006
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