The Internationals W-League team is entering Sunday night’s (July 23) game with a 9-4 record. The team is currently on a seven-game win streak since July 1st and sits in 3rd place of the Mid-West division. They are undefeated in July and are making a strong run toward a playoff berth. This Sunday, Cleveland will host the final game of the regular season.

The Internationals have a few individuals that are in the top of the league standings for various statistical categories: Keri Sarver is currently leading the entire 38-team league in the assist category with 11 assists in 13 games. Heloisa de Oliveria is in 9th place for Total Points with 23 and Sarver is close behind in 14th place with 21 points. Goalkeeper Carianne Betts is ranked 2nd in the league for Goal’s Against (4 goals in 7 games), 4th in the league for Goals Against Average (0.615), and 5th for Goalkeeper Wins (7 wins in 7 games played).

The team has also had three players named to the USL W-League Team of the Week so far this season: Heloisa de Oliveria in Week 9 and Week 13, Amanda Cinalli in Week 11, and Renee Balconi in Week 12.

These individual honors are a testament to a total team effort. The Internationals have had solid performances from every player on the roster. The defensive unit has been strong in July, helping the team to hard-fought victories over the top teams in the division. Head coach, Zdravko Popovic has done a tremendous job preparing the team and assembling a roster with a good mix of youth and veterans.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!
Come out and cheer on your local team and enjoy the highest level of women’s soccer in Ohio!

Game Details:
NOTE: TIME and LOCATION CHANGE
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Cleveland Internationals vs Cincinnati
Copley Rd Complex
1806 Copley Rd
Akron, Ohio 44320
Kickoff: 6:30 PM

About the W-League

The W-League is the highest level of women’s soccer in the US and Canada. The 2006 campaign features a 38-team format in four conferences playing 12 or 14 regular season matches. The top women’s players throughout the world compete in the USL W-League through the summer months. In addition to the league featuring international and former professional stars, elite collegiate players have the opportunity to also compete in the league while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is recognized throughout the world for providing elite competition for women’s players, while providing affordable family entertainment to many fans in each of the team locations.

Our Club’s Involvement
The Cleveland Internationals acquired a W-League franchise in fall 2003. We finished the Inaugural season with a record of 6-7-0, finishing third in our division and missing out on a play off berth by one point. The relative success of our first season was only a sign of greater things to come. The following year we finished with a record of 9-5-0, good enough for second place in the division and our first playoff berth. This year, we have added even more talent to our roster and have the ability to challenge for the division title and a make strong playoff run.

Some of our current and former Internatioanls youth members on the 2006 W-League roster include

Keri Sarver: Played for the Internationals since the age of 12 and is now a member of the club’s coaching staff; All-Time leader in career and single season goals, points and assists at the University of Maryland (’95-’98) where she was an All-American; Named by the ACC as one of the 50 greatest players in ACC history; Played professionally for 3 years in the WUSA; Member of the US Youth National Teams program and was in the Women’s National Team Pool; Holds the records at Jackson High in all offensive categories where she was a High School Parade All-American and was recently inducted into the Jackson High Hall of Fame.

Jessica Rostedt: Member of internationals for past 6 years; 2004 ACC Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American the University of Virginia; NSCAA Youth All-American; Parade All-American; Member of the US Youth National Team program since the age of 14; Member of the USA U19 World Cup Team - Silver Medalists; Current member of the USA U20 World Cup team and will compete for the title this summer in Russia.

Courtney Rosen: Member of Internationals for past 8 years; High School All-American at Hathaway Brown where she is the all time leader in goals, assists, and points; 2004 Ohio High School DII Player of the Year; Member of the US Youth National Teams program from 2003-2005; Youth All-American; Will attend the University of Notre Dame this fall.

In addition, our roster includes other local stars such as Amanda Cinalli who was an All-American at Laurel High and is currently a stand out at the University of Notre Dame. She was instrumental in helping Notre Dame to a National Championship in 2004 and was a member of the US Youth National Teams Program for 3 years. She is currently in Norway with the U21 National Team.

This year, we have added some international talent to our roster. Juliana Povoa and Heloisa de Oliveira hail from Brazil and will bring some excitement and flair to the field. In addition, two of our players Katie Schwager (former Internationals youth player) and Renee Balconi played professionally abroad in 2005.