CHICAGO (January 22, 2008) - The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team will start their 2008 schedule of games in the country they hope to finish it – New Zealand – traveling down under to play three international matches at the 2008 Future Stars Tournament taking place from Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.
New Zealand will host the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the first-ever at this age level, from Oct. 30-Nov. 16. This trip will give the young U.S. team some valuable preparation, should they qualify later this year through the CONCACAF competition which currently does not have set dates or venues.
The U.S. team will get three quality matches against U-17 women’s national teams in Auckland, New Zealand, taking on Australia on Jan. 29, facing the hosts New Zealand on January 31 and finishing up with Germany on Feb. 2.
In order to be age-eligible for the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, players must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1991.
U.S. head coach Kazbek Tambi will bring 18 players to New Zealand, 14 born in 1991 and four born in 1992. Twelve of the 18 players saw action in international matches for the U.S. U-16s last year. The U.S. team will depart for Auckland on January 24.
U.S. U-17 WNT Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Taylor Vancil (South Elgin, Ill.), Kelsey Wys (Coral Springs, Fla.);
DEFENDERS (4): Zakiya Bywaters (Las Vegas, Nev.), Crystal Dunn (Rockville Center, N.Y), Kristen Mewis (Hanson, Mass.), Julia Roberts (Fredrick, Md.);
MIDFIELDERS (6): Amber Brooks (New Hope, Pa.), Cloee Colohan (West Point, Utah), Olivia Klei (Pleasanton, Calif.), Samantha Mewis (Hanson, Mass.), Jenna Richmond (Centerville, Va.), Erika Tymrak (Bradenton, Fla.);
FORWARDS (6): Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii), Victoria DiMartino (Massapequa, N.Y.), Alexis Harris (Plano, Texas), Kealia Ohai (Draper, Utah), Courtney Verloo (Tualatin, Ore.), Mary Wagner (Wall, N.J.).
2008 Future Stars Tournament
U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team
Auckland, New Zealand
Jan. 24 - Feb. 2
Date Opponent City
Jan. 29 Australia U-17 Auckland, New Zealand
Jan. 31 New Zealand U-17 Auckland, New Zealand
Feb. 2 Germany U-17 Auckland, New Zealand
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