Auburn Goalkeeper Megan Rivera Named to U.S. U-19 Roster for FIFA World Championship

CHICAGO, Ill. – Auburn sophomore goalkeeper Megan Rivera is one of 18 athletes that has been named to the U.S. Under-19 Women's National Team, head coach Tracey Leone announced Monday. Rivera, the Tigers’ All-American keeper from Miami, FL, is one of only two SEC athletes on the national team.

“It is truly a great honor to represent my country at the World Championships,” Rivera said. “Putting on that jersey and playing for the United States will be a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am looking forward to it.”

Auburn head soccer coach Karen Richter will also serve as an assistant coach on the national team as it competes in Canada from August 17-September 1 in the first-ever FIFA World Championship for youth women.

“I am honored to serve as a coach for the United States National team and am extremely pleased that Megan earned a spot on the squad.” Richter said. “She has worked hard for this opportunity and it will be a great experience for her to compete against some of the top players in the world. We look forward to representing the U.S. National Team and Auburn University while competing in the tournament.”

Rivera helped earn a spot on the national team with a shutout of Sweden and also recorded a second half shutout of Mexico in the United State’s 3-1 victory. As a freshman last season at Auburn, Rivera was named to the All-SEC and All-America teams and helped lead the Tigers to the SEC Western Division title and a trip to the NCAA tournament.

Leone watched 57 players in game competition over the past two years and has pared that number down to the 18 players who will make history by participating in the first-ever FIFA World Championship for youth women.

The U.S. Under-19s finished up a two-week training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in San Diego, Calif., with wins over Mexico's U-19s on July 24 and 26 by 3-1 and 2-1 scores respectively. 

The U.S. team will now have a short break before regrouping in Portland, Ore. for training from Aug. 9-11 at the NIKE World Headquarters before heading up to Victoria, B.C., to begin final preparations for the World Championship.  The USA's first match is also the first match of the
tournament, taking on England on Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. PT at Centennial Stadium in Victoria, B.C.
   

In preparation for the World Championship, the U.S. U-19s played 37
official matches over the past two years, including 17 full internationals,
and countless other scrimmages.  The USA went 15-1-1 in those international
matches, outscoring their opponents 93-18.

The 18-player roster features six players who will be sophomores for
their colleges next fall, eight incoming college freshmen, three players who
will be high school seniors and one player who will be a high school junior.  The rising college freshmen and sophomores, including Rivera and Richter, will miss their pre-seasons and then jump right into their collegiate seasons after the
World Championship. Auburn opens the 2002 season at home Friday, August 30 against West Virginia. Match time is 7:30 p.m. CT.