CHICAGO -- University of Portland junior Lindsey Huie was one of 18 players selected to the United States Under-21 Women’s National Team that will compete at the 2004 Nordic Cup in Iceland on July 23-29, as announced by U-21 head coach Chris Petrucelli. It marks the second consecutive year that Huie will participate in the Nordic Cup, as she scored a goal and added an assist in helping the U.S. claim the 2003 title.
The U.S. team will assemble to train for three days in New Jersey from July 16-18 (which includes a scrimmage against the U.S. Under-19 National Team on July 17) before departing for Iceland, which will be hosting its second Nordic Cup. The USA won its second of six Nordic Cup titles in Iceland in 1999. Held in Northern Europe every summer, the Nordic Cup is the top competition in the world for U-21 women and the focus of the USA’s oldest youth national team during its seven-month run up to the prestigious competition.
“We have a core group of about 14 players that have been together for the last six months,” said Petrucelli who chose six college seniors, 10 juniors and one sophomore to the squad. “These players have gone to China and Brazil and played the full Women’s National Team a few times, so the amount of international experience they’ve gained in the last year will definitely help.”
The USA will face a tough challenge in Group B, taking on Finland, Norway and Germany in first-round play. Group A features Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and England. The top two finishers in each group will cross over to play for the championship, while the two second place finishers will play for third, the third place finishers for 5th and the last place finishers in the groups will vie for 7th place.
The USA has won six out of the last seven Nordic Cups, and five in a row, since winning its first in 1997 over Norway in Denmark. The USA fell the next year to Norway in the title game, but have since reeled off five straight titles under four different coaches, defeating Norway once, and Germany and Sweden twice, in the title games.
2004 Nordic Cup Schedule- Iceland - July 23-29
Date Match-up Venue
July 23 USA vs. Finland Dalvik
July 25 USA vs. Norway Olafsfjordur
July 27 USA vs. Germany Dalvik
July 29 Placement Matches TBD
2004 U. S. UNDER-21 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM NORDIC CUP ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (Stanford), Kati Jo Spisak (Texas A&M); DEFENDERS (5): Keeley Dowling, (Tennessee), Jenny Farenbaugh (Stanford), Lindsey Huie (Portland), Haley Hunt (Stanford), Jill Oakes (UCLA); MIDFIELDERS (7): Lori Chalupny (UNC), Sarah Huffman (Virginia), Carli Lloyd (Rutgers), Joanna Lohman (Penn State), Julianne Sitch (Depaul), Nikki Thaden (Texas), Kacey White (UNC); FORWARDS (4): Natasha Kai (Hawaii), Esmeralda Negron (Princeton), Manya Makoski (Arizona State), Kelly Wilson (Texas).
