July 8, 2008

New Zealand Olympic Committee Release

NEW ZEALAND - Junior Ali Riley will be heading to Beijing as the New Zealand Olympic Committee has named the women who will be the first football players to represent New Zealand at an Olympic Games.

"I have dreamed of going to an Olympic Games since I first picked up a soccer ball, said Riley. "I am truly honored to have been given the opportunity to represent my country."

"We are very proud of Ali making the New Zealand Olympic squad," commented Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe. "Everybody involved in our program is looking forward to watching Ali represent New Zealand in China, and the New Zeealand - U.S. game where she will face former Stanford teammates Buehler and Barnhart. It is a very prestigious honor for them to represent their countries and we wish all three the best of luck in China."

After ending a 16-year absence from the world stage at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Football Ferns return to China with their strongest squad in John Herdman's two-year tenure as head coach.

"It's exciting going into an Olympic Games knowing that all 18 players bring something different and that they can all make a significant impact to the team performance in their own unique way," said Herdman.

"We've got players coming back from injury at the right time with Oostdam and Tegg back in for the first time since the World Cup and Rebecca Smith coming back on board at the Peace Queen Cup."

With football beginning two days before the Olympic opening ceremony, the Football Ferns will be New Zealand's first Olympians in action when they meet Japan in Qinhuangdao on August 6, and Herdman and his team were relishing the opportunity to kickstart New Zealand's involvement.

"It's all special - the whole mantle of being an Olympian. We know what it means to New Zealanders to be at the Olympics, and to be the first team in the first event makes it even more special," said Herdman.

"To have the chance to get off to a good start by getting a win against Japan and maybe inspiring the rest of the Olympic team is extra motivation."

The Football Ferns finish pool play with matches against world number five Norway on Aug. 9 world number one USA, which features Stanford alumni Rachel Buehler and Nicole Barnhart on its roster, on Aug. 12.

New Zealand Olympic Football Squad
Football Ferns (Senior Women):
Name (Club - age - caps/goals)

Goalkeepers:
Jenny Bindon (Waitakere City FC - 35 - 23/0)
Rachel Howard (TSV Crailsheim - 30 - 14/0)

Defenders:
Anna Green (Three Kings United - 17 - 8/1)
Abby Erceg (Western Springs - 18 - 24/2)
Kristy Hill (Three Kings United - 29 - 2/0)
Marlies Oostdam (Eastern Suburbs - 30 - 24/0)
Ria Percival (FC Indiana - 18 - 24/2)
Rebecca Smith (Sunnana SK - 27 - 27/2)

Midfielders:
Katie Hoyle (Lynn Avon United - 20 - 12/0)
Emily McColl (Cocoa Expos/Coastal Carolina University - 22 - 17/0),
Hayley Moorwood (Lynn Avon United - 24 - 32/3),
Ali Riley (Stanford University - 20 - 19/0)
Kirsty Yallop (Lynn Avon United - 21 - 16/5)

Forwards:
Amber Hearn (Lynn Avon United - 23 - 9/1)
Emma Kete (Lynn Avon United - 20 - 11/2)
Renee Leota (Western Springs FC - 18 - 10/1)
Merissa Smith (Three Kings United - 17 - 15/1)
Rebecca Tegg (Eastern Suburbs - 22 - 5/0)

Management: John Herdman (Head Coach), Tony Readings (Assistant coach/ Technical Analyst), Julie Hogg (Manager), Simon Eaddy (Goalkeeping Coach), Helen Tunstall (Sports Scientist), Alysha Blackwell (Physiotherapist), Mark Fulcher (Doctor).