May 3, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB women's soccer player Nadine Liverpool got the chance to play for the Trinidad and Tobago national team in the 2007 Futbol Internacional Soccer Festival during the week of April 22-28. Making the most of her opportunities, she earned a starting spot on the squad in all three games during the tournament.

"I'm extremely proud of Nadine," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "Very few people get the opportunity to represent their country in international competition. What a great experience for her."

The Futbol Internacional featured six teams and nine games in six different Alabama cities over a seven-day period. Trinidad and Tobago's full national team was joined by United States' U-21, Mexico's U-21 and China's U-21 teams, Canada's Olympic Development squad, and the full national team from Argentina.

Liverpool is a sophomore midfielder at UAB and is a native of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. She is eligible to play for the Trinidad and Tobago national team since both of her parents are from there.

In her first game as a member of the Trinidad and Tobago national team on April 24, Liverpool earned a spot in the starting lineup as the squad fell to the United States U-21, 2-0, in Huntsville.

Liverpool continued to maintain her starting position throughout the tournament, as Trinidad and Tobago dropped its match to China U-21, 2-0, in Tuscaloosa on April 26, followed by a loss to Argentina on April 28 in Mobile by a count of 2-0.

"I know that Nadine had a tremendous respect for the opportunity that she earned," said Harbin. "As a coach, it's exciting and an honor to see one of our players playing in full international competition.

"This tournament also allowed Nadine to develop as a player. It was clear to me that her level of playing sophistication progressed as she played more matches. Playing against two of the top four countries in the world in her first two full international matches was certainly an inspiring way to start."