March 9, 2006

AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn soccer team will play an exhibition match with the Mexican Women's National Team on April 5 at the Auburn Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. CT.

Tickets for the exhibition game are $10 with all proceeds from the game going to the Mexican National Team as well as outreach programs in rural Alabama in cooperation with Governor Riley's Blackbelt Action Committee. Tickets can be purchased at the Auburn tickets office located inside of Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum or by calling 1-800-AUB-1957.

"What a great opportunity this is for our team and the people of Auburn to come out and see a very exciting exhibition of soccer," AU Head Coach Karen Hoppa said. "Mexico is a very strong team with some great players on it and the match with them should prove to be a very exciting night for everyone in the Auburn community."

Mexico has risen to 17th in the world rankings of the international soccer scene during the past five years and is considered the strongest of the Latin American counties along with Brazil. Current stars include Maribel Dominguez, who played for famed club, Barcelona, in Spain, as well as Iris Mora, currently playing at UCLA.

The Alabama Youth Soccer Association is hosting the event. AYSA's focus is the development of stronger ties to the Latino community with youth soccer, fostering economic partnerships and benefits for the state. AYSA, which is a non-profit organization, hopes the success of the game will spur growth in outreach soccer programs to underserved children of the state.

The Mexican Women's National Team will also compete against North Carolina at Legion Field on April 8 before finishing their trip with a match against Duke on April 9 in Decatur.

"Many of the top players in the world come from the US and Latin America, and they will be in Alabama in April showcasing spectacular abilities," Scott Spencer, AYSA's Director of Coaching said. "The skills and creative flair of Mexico will face the competitive force and speed that has put Americans at the pinnacle of women's soccer in the world."