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Illini head coach Janet Rayfield will be an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's National Team on July 19 and 22.
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July 15, 2009
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois head coach Janet Rayfield has been selected by U.S. Soccer and head coach Pia Sundhage to serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's National Team for its two upcoming matches against Canada on July 19 and 22. The team reports to training tomorrow in preparation for its match on Sunday.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the best players in our country and with two of the best female players and coaches in the game today in Pia Sundage and Hege Riise," Rayfield said. "I am excited to learn from them and to provide whatever insight I might have to help soccer and these top players continue to develop. I have seen many of these current national team players as youth and college players, and that will allow me to provide insight for our national team staff with respect to their development and growth over time."
The U.S. will first face Canada on Sunday, July 19 at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. The match begins at 2 p.m. CT and will be televised live on ESPN. The two teams will face off again on Wednesday, July 22 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C. with the match aired live at 7 p.m. CT on Fox Soccer Channel. The matches will be the last domestic games for the U.S. Women's National Team in 2009, also concluding a three-game summer series with Canada.
"The ability to work with the players and coaches at this level helps me to continue to grow as a coach and gives me insight into the development players need to reach this level," Rayfield said. "The experience will help me communicate to players what they need and how they can improve to potentially wear the USA jersey in the future. That is the ultimate goal of most top athletes."
