Wilson to play for U.S. Women's National Team
CHICAGO -- Former University of Texas forward Kelly Wilson (Odessa, Texas) has been named to the 2005 U.S. Women's Soccer National Team roster for the 12th annual Algarve Cup to be held in Portugal from March 9-15. Wilson, a two-time All-American, will leave for Portugal with the team on March 1. "It was very exciting for me to be invited to go," Wilson said. "This is a wonderful opportunity, and it will be a tremendous experience playing with the team and learning from all of the great players." The U.S. National Team will open its competition against France on March 9, play Finland on March 11 and conclude its first round matches against Denmark on March 13. The U.S. National Team made recent headlines this past summer by capturing the Gold Medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, by defeating Brazil 2-1.This will be Wilson's second time playing in the Algarve Cup for the U.S. National Team -- the first coming in the spring of 2002, when she scored a goal in her debut game against England. "We're really excited for Kelly, and it's nice to see her hard work pay off," Texas women's soccer head coach Chris Petrucelli said. "She's continuing down a path she started before she came to Texas, and has achieved a goal she always wanted, which was to play for the U.S. Women's National Team following her college career." A four-year letterwinner for the Horns from 2001-04, Wilson earned All-Big 12 honors in each of her four seasons on the Forty Acres, was named the Big 12 Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2002 and 2001, respectively, was selected a finalist for the 2002 Hermann Trophy and was a two-time candidate for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Award. Additionally, Wilson, who was a 2004 Academic All-American and the recipient of a 2004 NCAA Today's Top VIII Award, concluded her college career as the Longhorns' career leader in appearances (84), starts (84), assists (41), points (129) and game-winning goals (13). For additional information on the U.S. Women's National Team and the Algarve Cup, please log on to USSoccer.com.
|
|
