Former USF Women’s Soccer Star to Compete at National Level

Tampa, FL…Kristine Edner, a 2000 South Florida graduate and former USF forward 1996-98, will compete for her native Norway in Guangzhou, China in what is called the Four Nations Tournament, beginning January 23. Edner finished her career at USF as the second leading goal scorer with 37, second in assists with 24, and second in total points with 98.

Edner, maintained her top-notch athletic abilities, by competing for Norway’s elite club team, the Oslo Roa. The Roa club team has also spawned current USF players Rachel Thjomoe and Christine Koester. Koester and Thjomoe were two-thirds of South Florida’s Norwegian connection that produced 36 of the teams 76 points in 2001. Also a member of the Roa club team in 2001, was arguably the best USF Women’s Soccer player in its brief history, Siri Nordby. Nordby played from 1997 to 2000 and finished her career as the leading scorer with 110 points.

In what is to be Edner’s first appearance on the national level, the current record holder for goals scored in a single season at USF with 16 (1998), will have to play extremely well. The field for the tournament includes the United States, Germany, China, and Norway, the four most respected teams in women’s soccer on the national level.

For USF Head Coach Logan Fleck, this marks the second player that was under his tutelage at South Florida that has gone on to play at the national level. Former USF men’s soccer star and current MLS player with the Columbus Crew, Jeff Cunningham, has previously played for the men’s U.S. National Team.

Edner, the former First-Team C-USA player and Norway will begin their tournament with a match against the U.S. on January 23, then the host, China, Jan. 25 and finish with Germany Jan. 27.