Smith set to begin FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Aug. 18, 2012
United States Under-20 Women's National Team official web site HIROSHIMA, Japan - University of Texas freshman goalkeeper Abby Smith and the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team is set to begin competition in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The tournament features national teams from 16 countries and runs from Aug. 19-Sept. 8. Smith is one of three goalkeepers named to the squad, and one of only three players who has not started her collegiate career to earn a place on the final 23-woman roster. So far in 2012, the U.S. squad is 12-1-0 against international competition. The lone loss was a 1-0 setback to Japan during a June trip to the country. The Americans have played nine matches against teams in the upcoming tournament and posted an 8-1-0 mark against them. Smith and her fellow goalkeepers have posted a 0.23 goals against average so far this year. At the Women's World Cup, the Americans are joined in the group stage by Ghana, China PR and Germany. Team USA opens its competition versus Ghana at 1:50 a.m. Central on Aug. 20. The U.S. then faces China PR at 4:50 a.m. Central on Aug. 23 and Germany at 2:50 a.m. Central on Aug. 27. The top two teams from each group advance to the Aug. 30-31 quarterfinals, with the winners playing in the semifinals on Sept. 4. The championship is scheduled for Sept. 8. Smith will become the third member of the Longhorns' program to play for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup (until 2006, tournament was for under-19 age group), joining Kelly Wilson (2002) and Stephanie Logterman (2004, 2006). Current Texas assistant coach Keeley Dowling was a teammate of Wilson's on the 2002 squad while Dowling was at the University of Tennessee. 2012 FIFA U-20 U.S. Women's World Cup competition schedule (all times Central)Date - Opponent - Time - Television - Venue Aug. 20 - Ghana - 1:50 a.m. - ESPNU, ESPN3 - Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium; Hiroshima, Japan Aug. 23 - China PR - 4:50 a.m. - ESPNU, ESPN3 - Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium; Hiroshima, Japan Aug. 27 - Germany - 1:50 a.m. - ESPN2, ESPN3 - Miyagi Stadium; Rifu, Japan
|
|
