Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Grey Gibbs
Puketapu Called Up To NZ Full National Team, Kornieck Joins U-20s In Spain
February 27, 2017 | Soccer
BOULDER - Colorado freshman soccer player Martine Puketapu has been called up to New Zealand's full women's national team, while sophomore Taylor Kornieck was named to the U-20 roster for the United States for a tournament in Spain next week. Puketapu will become the first active CU soccer player to play for a full national team.
Puketapu, who will be a freshman for the 2017 season and is enrolled at CU this spring and participating in spring workouts with the team, will compete for her native New Zealand at the Cyprus Cup over the next week. The Ferns, ranked No. 19 in the world, will face Scotland (March 1), Austria (March 3) and the Korea Republic (March 6) in three group games before the knockout stages.
Puketapu is one of three uncapped players named to the country's roster for the tournament in Cyprus. Playing for New Zealand's U-17, U-18 and U-20 teams, she has scored 26 goals in international competition, including six with the U-20 team, which she competed for in 2016.
Kornieck will play three games next week in La Manga, Spain, for the U-20 USWNT. The Americans will face U-19 sides from Norway (March 3 at 9:30 a.m. MT), Germany (March 5, 7 a.m.) and France (March 7 at 8 a.m.). She competed in two matches in England last summer for the U-18 team and served as a team captain. This age group for the U.S. is beginning a new cycle of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in France.
Kornieck, who turned 18 years old in November, completed her freshman season with the Buffs in 2016 and was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and to Top Drawer Soccer's Best XI Freshman team. She started all 22 games at midfielder and had 11 goals and four assists for 26 points, while connecting on six game-winning shots.
The two are among five CU soccer players who have been on a national team roster in the past year. Recent graduate Danica Evans, who was drafted 22nd overall in the NWSL Draft in January by the Orlando Pride, is currently with the U-23 USWNT. Junior Sarah Kinzner and sophomore Camilla Shymka are both members of Canada's U-20 National Team and Kinzner has also competed for the U-23 national team at the 2015 Pan American Games.
CU is coming off one of its best seasons in school history, finishing tied for second in the Pac-12 with national champion Southern California. The Buffs had a 15-6-1 overall record, including 8-2-1 in the conference, and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They are currently underway with official spring training sessions, which will continue through the end of April. CU will also play five spring exhibition games between March 19 and April 29.
Puketapu, who will be a freshman for the 2017 season and is enrolled at CU this spring and participating in spring workouts with the team, will compete for her native New Zealand at the Cyprus Cup over the next week. The Ferns, ranked No. 19 in the world, will face Scotland (March 1), Austria (March 3) and the Korea Republic (March 6) in three group games before the knockout stages.
Puketapu is one of three uncapped players named to the country's roster for the tournament in Cyprus. Playing for New Zealand's U-17, U-18 and U-20 teams, she has scored 26 goals in international competition, including six with the U-20 team, which she competed for in 2016.
Kornieck will play three games next week in La Manga, Spain, for the U-20 USWNT. The Americans will face U-19 sides from Norway (March 3 at 9:30 a.m. MT), Germany (March 5, 7 a.m.) and France (March 7 at 8 a.m.). She competed in two matches in England last summer for the U-18 team and served as a team captain. This age group for the U.S. is beginning a new cycle of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in France.
Kornieck, who turned 18 years old in November, completed her freshman season with the Buffs in 2016 and was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and to Top Drawer Soccer's Best XI Freshman team. She started all 22 games at midfielder and had 11 goals and four assists for 26 points, while connecting on six game-winning shots.
The two are among five CU soccer players who have been on a national team roster in the past year. Recent graduate Danica Evans, who was drafted 22nd overall in the NWSL Draft in January by the Orlando Pride, is currently with the U-23 USWNT. Junior Sarah Kinzner and sophomore Camilla Shymka are both members of Canada's U-20 National Team and Kinzner has also competed for the U-23 national team at the 2015 Pan American Games.
CU is coming off one of its best seasons in school history, finishing tied for second in the Pac-12 with national champion Southern California. The Buffs had a 15-6-1 overall record, including 8-2-1 in the conference, and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They are currently underway with official spring training sessions, which will continue through the end of April. CU will also play five spring exhibition games between March 19 and April 29.
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