June 27, 2011

GERMANY - It's doubtful any other school can claim as many current or former players in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup as Stanford.

In the sixth quadrennial tournament, which began Sunday and continues through July 17 in Germany, Stanford is represented by six players, including senior midfielder Teresa Noyola and junior defender Alina Garciamendez, who play for Mexico.

The United States has three former Stanford players - the most from any school - including captain Rachel Buehler ('07), in defense. Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart ('04) is a veteran of the 2007 World Cup and the 2008 Olympics teams, and this will be the first major international tournament for midfielder Kelley O'Hara ('10).

New Zealand features defender Ali Riley ('10), the reigning Oceania Federation player of the year.

The Women's World Cup is the most important women's soccer tournament in the world and has been played every four years since its inception in 1991. The tournament involves 16 teams, 15 of which advanced to the final stage through qualifying. Germany received an automatic berth as both the host country and defending World Cup champion.

The United States and Germany have won two titles each and Norway has won one. Mexico and New Zealand are seeking their first World Cup victories.

The teams begin with four four-team groups, with each team playing the other members of the group once. The top two in each group advance to the knockout stages. The final will be played in Frankfurt on July 17 at 11:45 a.m. PT.

United States

Nicole Barnhart
Age: 29
Height: 5-10
Number: 18
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Philadelphia Independence (WPS)
Hometown: Gilbertsville, Pa.
Stanford graduating class: 2004
International caps: 39

National team: Played a key role in 2010 and 2011 when she stepped into goal as the starter in the absence of Hope Solo, who was recovering from a shoulder injury, and helped the U.S. qualify. Tall, strong and athletic, her experience and confidence add a commanding presence to perhaps the strongest goalkeeping trio in the tournament. She has a 26-3-3 all-time record in the nets for the U.S., having been a member of the 2007 World Cup team and the 2008 Olympic gold medal winning side.

Stanford: A two-time first-team All-American, Barnhart continues to hold Stanford career records for goals-against average (0.45) and shutouts (35), as well as single-season marks in GAA (0.19, 2002), shutouts (18, 2002) and fewest goals allowed (four, 2002). During her three seasons as a starter (2002-04), Stanford reached the NCAA tournament each season and advanced as far as the NCAA quarterfinals (2002) during a Pac-10 championship season. Barnhart graduated with a double degree in studio art and psychology.

Rachel Buehler
Age: 25
Height: 5-5
Number: 19
Position: Defender
Club: Boston Breakers (WPS)
Hometown: Del Mar, Calif.
Stanford graduating class: 2007
International caps: 60
International goals: 2

National team: The rugged defender is a fearless ball-winner who has done her best work for the U.S. in the center of the defense. She has featured in 32 of the national team's 33 matches from 2009 to the present and scored her first career goal in the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament. The future medical student was named the U.S. co-captain by Pia Sundhage in 2010 - becoming the 12 captain in U.S. national team history - and is known for being a model professional with a tremendous work ethic. Buehler earned her first cap in March, 2008, and played for the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. She holds the nickname of Buehl-Dozer.

Stanford: Buehler was a two-time second-team NSCAA All-American in 2006 and '07 and the 2007 ESPN Scholar-Athlete of the year. The three-year team captain was a two-time All-Pac-10 first-team choice under current Cardinal coach Paul Ratcliffe. Stanford reached the NCAA tournament in each of her four seasons (2003, 2005-07), advancing as far as the third round (2006, `07).

Kelley O'Hara
Age: 22
Height: 5-5
Number: 5
Position: Midfielder
Club: Boston Breakers (WPS)
Hometown: Fayetteville, Ga.
Stanford graduating class: 2010
International caps: 5
International goals: 0

National team: O'Hara was added to the roster as a late replacement for Lindsay Tarpley, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee late in an exhibition against Japan on May 14. O'Hara brings great energy and fitness to her position, as well as the ability to challenge defenders one on one. O'Hara earned her first cap in March, 2010 after starring for the U.S. U-20 team, for which she scored 24 goals in 35 international matches.

Stanford: O'Hara is Stanford's single-season record-holder for points (65) and goals (tied with Christen Press with 26). She led Stanford into its first NCAA championship final in 2009 and was awarded the prestigious Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy as college soccer's best player that season. O'Hara was a first-team NSCAA All-America in 2009, and a first-team ESPN Academic All-America. She majored in science, technology, and society.

U.S. Schedule
June 28, in Dresden: United States 2, North Korea 0. Rachel Buehler struck home the clinching goal in the 76th minute, scoring from the top of the box through traffic with a right-footed shot that snuck inside the near post. It was the second international goal for Buehler, who was making her 60th national-team appearance, but it was her first appearance in a World Cup match. Nicole Barnhart and Kelley O'Hara did not play.
July 2, vs. Colombia, in Sinsheim, 8:30 a.m. PT (ESPN, ESPN3.com)
July 6, vs. Sweden, in Wolfsburg, 11:30 a.m. PT (ESPN, ESPN3.com)

Mexico

Alina Garciamendez
Age: 20
Height: 5-8
Number: 4
Position: Defender
Club: Stanford University
Hometown: Fairview, Texas
2011 status: Junior
International caps: 21
International goals: 1

National team: Garciamendez made her first full international appearance in December, 2009. She was born in Los Gatos, Calif., and raised in Texas. Her parents are natives of Mexico. Her father, Edsel, came to the U.S. to earn master's degrees in operations research and industrial engineering at Stanford. During the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the World Cup, Garciamendez spent a trying few weeks traveling between the event in Cancun and Stanford in an effort to play in as many matches as possible for both teams. As at Stanford, Garciamendez plays in the central defense.

Stanford: Garciamendez has started every match in the central defense since she arrived as a freshman, helping the Cardinal reach the NCAA College Cup final - the furthest Stanford ever has advanced - in each of her two seasons. She earned second team All-Pac-10 honors as a freshman and was an honorable mention selection last season while serving as a team captain.

Teresa Noyola
Age: 21
Height: 5-3
Number: 17
Position: Midfielder
Club: Stanford University
Hometown: Palo Alto, Calif.
2011 status: Senior
International caps: 10
International goals: 0

National team: Noyola had been part of the U.S. youth national teams since 2004, and played in the U-20 World Cup in Germany last year. However, because she is a dual citizen, Noyola had the option of playing for Mexico as well. She ultimately chose Mexico because her style of play matched her own and because of the opportunities it presented. She earned her first cap in December, 2010, as an attacking midfielder. Noyola was born in Mexico City and came to the U.S. at age 3 when her parents, Pedro and Barbara, were accepted into graduate school at Stanford.

Stanford: Noyola is a two-time first-team NSCAA All-American and has 22 goals and 25 assists over her career as a three-year starter - helping the Cardinal to the NCAA College Cup each time. She is one of five players in Stanford history to receive multiple first-team All-America honors. Last year, Noyola set single-season bests in goals (10) and assists (12).

Mexico schedule
June 27, in Wolfsburg: Mexico 1, England 1. Mexico earned its first-ever point in the World Cup with the draw, tying the score on a 30-meter shot by Monica Ocampo that reached the upper left corner in the 33rd minute. Alina Garciamendez started and played the entire match in central defense, and was shown a second-half yellow card for a takedown just outside the box. Teresa Noyola entered as an 85th minute substitute. She took one shot that was blocked and set up a corner kick with a cutback move that beat a defender at the end line.
July 1, vs. Japan, in Leverkusen, 6 a.m. PT (ESPN, ESPN3.com)
July 5, vs. New Zealand, in Sinsheim, 9:15 a.m. PT (ESPN2, ESPN3.com)

New Zealand

Ali Riley
Age: 22
Height: 5-5
Number: 7
Position: Defender
Club: Western New York Flash (WPS)
Hometown: Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Stanford graduating class: 2010
International caps: 51
International goals: 1

National team: Riley, whose father John is from New Zealand, made her debut for the Football Ferns in January, 2007, at age 19. This is the second World Cup for Riley, who played in 2007, and third worldwide competition, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Riley, the reigning New Zealand and Oceania player of the year, plays right back.

Stanford: After beginning her Stanford career as a forward, Riley was shifted to outside back as a junior and developed into one of the most valuable players on two NCAA College Cup teams. With her speed and fitness, Riley was able to attack up the wing and quickly retreat to regain her position on defense. She was named the Pac-10 Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year for soccer in 2009, the same season she earned third-team NSCAA All-America and first-team All-Pac-10 honors.

New Zealand schedule
June 27, in Bochum: Japan 2, New Zealand 1. New Zealand earned its closest-ever World Cup result, but was disappointed by allowing a tiebreaking goal on a free kick in the 68th minute. Ali Riley started and starred at right back, playing a flawless defensive game while winning the ball repeatedly in one-on-one situations. Riley started New Zealand's goal-scoring sequence in the 12th minute by intercepting a midfield pass and switching the ball to the left side.
July 1, vs. England, in Dresden, 9:15 a.m. PT (ESPN, ESPN3.com)
July 5, vs. Mexico, in Sinsheim, 9:15 a.m. PT (ESPN2, ESPN3.com)