April 2, 2008

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico - With CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying getting set to get under way in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the Tigers will be well represented over the week with three players competing for a spot to go to Bejing, China this summer. Former Tiger Regina McGee will be representing Trinidad & Tobago at the tournament while former Tiger and current assistant coach Carmen Padilla alongside of Angelica Figueroa, one of Pacific's 2008 recruits, will be representing Mexico in the qualifying tournament.

Establishing herself as one of the most dangerous forwards in Pacific soccer history, McGee finished her career in the top-5 in goals scored with 20 collegiate strikes. More impressively, McGee holds the Tigers' all-time single season record for goals scored with 16 during the 2002 campaign. McGee has been a member of the Trinidad & Tobago program since 2004, playing with the team in the last qualifying tournament.

For Mexico, the Tigers send two players led by Padilla who has been a member of the full Mexican National Team for the past three seasons. Throughout her international career, Padilla has notched eight goals while playing in the midfield for Team Mexico. At Pacific, Padilla finished her career with 20 career goals and 14 career assists, placing her fourth all-time in points scored with 54.

Making her Olympic Qualifying debut, Figueroa, the newest member of Team Mexico and a new addition to the Tigers' 2008 squad, joins the team after a stellar career at Linden High School. Figueroa was highly honored during her high school career after leading Linden High School to back-to-back-to-back Mother Lode League Championships from 2005-2007. For her play she was named an all-league player in each of her four varsity seasons while also garnering team Most Valuable Player honors in each of the last two seasons.

2008 CONCACAF WOMEN'S OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION SCHEDULE
Group A
Date, Match-up, Kickoff (Local)
April 2, Mexico vs. Jamaica, 7:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. PT
April 4, USA vs. Jamaica, 7:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. PT
April 6, Mexico vs. USA, 1:30 p.m. MT / 12:30 p.m. PT

Group B
Date, Match-up, Kickoff (Local)
April 2, Trinidad & Tobago vs. Canada, 5 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. PT
April 4, Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 5 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. PT
April 6, Canada vs. Costa Rica, 11 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. PT

Semifinals Kickoff (Local)
April 9, Winner Group A vs. Runner-up Group B, 5 p.m. MT / 4 p.m. PT
April 9, Winner Group B vs. Runner-up Group A, 7:30 p.m. MT / 6:30 p.m. PT

Final/Third-place Game Kickoff (Local)
April 12, Third-Place Game, 5 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. PT
April 12, Championship, 7:30 p.m. MT / 6:30 p.m. PT