Cardinal soccer forward Ali Riley will be on two trans-Pacific flights later this year — one to join the New Zealand national team, and the other to go to the 2008 Women’s World Cup in China.

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Rising sophomore Ali Riley was named to the New Zealand national team for this September’s Women’s World Cup in China. An All-Pac-10 freshman selection, the Cardinal forward had four goals and two assists this past season. #gallery http://daily.stanford.edu/image/full/7794
Stanford Daily File Photo

Rising sophomore Ali Riley was named to the New Zealand national team for this September’s Women’s World Cup in China. An All-Pac-10 freshman selection, the Cardinal forward had four goals and two assists this past season.

The rising sophomore is one of six teenagers on the young New Zealand team. She previously represented her home country at last year’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup, but has since joined the national team in training.

On the Farm last fall, Riley earned an All-Pacific-10 Conference freshman selection, starting in 15 games for the Cardinal and ranking fourth on the team in scoring (four goals and two assists). At the same time she was receiving international accolades, including being named the Nike International Women’s Player of the Year.

The next month of training for Riley includes a match against the top-ranked U.S. team, the reigning Olympic champion. The Women’s World Cup begins Sept. 10, with New Zealand’s first match against Brazil.