Aug. 25, 2008
Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team notched its first victory of the season Friday night against Arkansas-Little Rock. On a great opening weekend for the Lady Tigers, they also lose one of their starters from Friday night's opener. Freshman forward Julia Ignacio returned to Canada over the weekend to participate in a training camp for the U-17 Canadian National Team.
Forty of Canada's best U-17 soccer players have been assembled for a training camp beginning on Aug. 24 and running through Sept. 1. Eighteen players from the pool will be selected at the tryout to comprise a team that will represent Canada in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand from Oct. 28 through Nov. 16.
"It feels phenomenal," stated Ignacio on receiving an opportunity to represent her country.
"It is a tremendous honor and I am proud to be representing Canada."
If Ignacio is selected to the Canadian team, she will participate in a series of additional training camps with her new squad and then compete the U-17 World Cup. She would be practicing and competing with the Canadian team throughout the entirety of the Memphis women's soccer season and would receive a redshirt for her freshman year.
Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan is excited for Ignacio and her opportunity
"I think it's a great honor, not only for her, but our entire program to have someone representing their country on an international level," Monaghan said. "Anytime a kid gets an opportunity to represent their country it is definitely something very special. We are in full support of her going. Our hopes for her are that she gets picked for the World Cup team. There are kids that dream of that, and there just aren't that many people that get that opportunity. We're ecstatic for her and we wish her the best and I'm sure she will do well."
Despite leaving less than a month after her arrival in the Bluff City, Ignacio talked about how she likes being at the University of Memphis.
"It feels awesome to be a Memphis Tiger," Ignacio stated. "Coach Monaghan is a tremendous coach who knows his stuff. I have learned a lot even in the short time that I have been here. All the girls are incredibly nice. I feel like if I had gone to a different university that I wouldn't get the same treatment."
Canada, the final team to qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup New Zealand, have been paired with the hosts, Colombia and Denmark in Group A of the tournament.
