April 10, 2008

USC junior Amy Rodriguez has played a strong role in pushing the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team to a berth at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The speedy forward has been a fixture on the Team USA roster throughout the past three international tournaments, and yesterday Rodriguez helped the United States to a semifinal win at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualification Tournament in Juarez, Mexico. By reaching the final of the tournament - where the USA will face Canada on April 12 - the United States has secured a trip to the 2008 Olympics.

Rodriguez - USC's top scorer last season when the Trojans claimed the 2007 NCAA Championship - was invited to train with the U.S. full national team in December by new U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage. She has since accumulated nine more caps along with three international goals while competing at the Four Nations Tournament in China, the Algarve Cup in Portugal and the current CONCACAF Olympic Qualification Tournament in Mexico. Rodriguez now holds 14 caps as the USA turns to play Canada in the championship game of the qualifying tournament.

In the qualifying tournament, Rodriguez appeared in the USA's past two matches, coming on in the second half to help add a spark to the U.S. offensive lines. After a 6-0 win over Jamaica to open the tourney, the United States topped host Mexico 3-1 in group play before yesterday's 3-0 semifinal win over Costa Rica to secure Olympic qualification. Rodriguez played a key role in the USA's third goal of the match, getting deep in Costa Rica territory and feeding a pass into the box to set up a final goal for the United States in the 89th minute.

Rodriguez's 10 goals, three assists and three game-winners during USC's NCAA championship drive bumped the junior up to rank No. 6 all-time in career points (59), No. 6 in career goals (23) and No. 4 in career game-winning goals (9) at USC.

For more on Amy and Team USA, visit www.ussoccer.com.