CARSON, Calif. (Sept. 20, 2007) – The second annual
Women’s Nike Friendlies kicked off Wednesday night with two Under-17 matches as the Irvine Strikers defeated Arsenal, 2-1, and Real So Cal drew, 1-1, with Slammers FC at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Thursday marks the first full day, with a matches kicking off at 11 a.m. PT and the last matches of the day being played at 3:30 p.m. PT. Highlighting the matches are two games involving U.S. Girls’ National Teams as the U.S. U-14 GNT takes on the U-16 Dallas Texans at 1 p.m. PT and the U-15 GNT faces the U-17 Slammers FC at 3 p.m. PT. Both matches will be played at the Mooch Myernick Field.
The 2007 Women’s Nike Friendlies feature 27 elite Nike club teams and the U.S. Under-14 and Under-15 Girls’ National Teams. Last year was the first year for the Women’s Nike Friendlies, which boasted 28 of the country’s top women’s clubs in the U-16, U-17 and U-18 age groups, including three U.S. Youth National Teams, the California South Olympic Development squad and 24 elite Nike club teams from around the country.
U.S. Soccer’s Nike Friendlies is an annual competition in which the best youth soccer clubs around the United States in the U-16, U-17 and U-18 age divisions are invited to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for a high-level four-day event which stresses quality soccer and player development over wins and losses. Standings are not kept during the competition, in which each team plays three 80-minute games over the four days.
During the tournament, parents, fans and participants can follow the action at the Women's Nike Friendlies at ussoccer.com, which provides mini-match reports from every game played.
U.S. Soccer will also be conducting a Referee Academy and Coaching Symposium in conjunction with the Men’s and Women’s Nike Friendlies.
Did you know?