February 6, 2008

After a one-year hiatus, the USASA Women’s National Select Team traveled south of the border, this time to face the Mexico Women’s Olympic Team in a two-game series, played on the 25 & 27 of January.

Over 3000 people in Jalapa, Mexico witnessed the inaugural match, where in the 52^nd minute, a free kick goal permitted the neighboring country to claim the victory over USASA ’s Select Team, to finish with a 1:0 loss.

A miscommunication occurred between USASA ’s defender Kendall Fletcher, and goalkeeper Brittany Cameron, as Fletcher stroke the ball landing it inside the net, which inevitably gave Mexico the lead, and carried it to the end.

“It was a very close and outstanding game. Our team competed against the majority of the first players of the Mexican Olympic Team, whom were exceptional” said National Select Team At-Large Commissioner, Bill Bosgraaf.

“We are very proud of our players, and we know the game should have finished 0:0.”

Both teams were back in Mexico City for a second encounter on Sunday, Jan. 27. The match, played at the Mexico National Training Center, sealed off the international tour with a second victory for Mexico, to a 3:2 win over USASA.

“Overall, players gained individual and collective – international - experience against one of the top national teams in the world” said Bosgraaf, who accompanied the team to Mexico.

“Individual performance could possibly give them the opportunity to be invited to a U.S. National Camp for a chance to make the U.S. Women’s National Team” he added.

The 2008 tour was made possible by previous relationships with the Women’s Head Coach of the Mexican Soccer Federation (Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, FMF). The FMF, invited by the USASA, previously attended the U.S. Soccer Festival for a number of years, so there is familiarity between the two countries.

USASA left for Mexico back in 2005 and played not one but two games vs. their National Team with a 3:2 win and a 0:1 loss.

The following year, the Women’s National Select Team traveled to the city of Villahermosa, Mexico, where they played their U 20’s to a tie, 2:2 then came back strong for the second game and won 3:0.