June 20, 2011

FULLERTON, CA -

&\#149; Official England Announcement
&\#149; England Women's National Team
&\#149; 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

Former Cal State Fullerton women's soccer standout Karen Bardsley has been selected as one of 21 players representing England for this summer's FIFA Women's World Cup Finals beginning on June 26 in Germany.

Bardsley, one of three keepers on the roster for National Coach Hope Powell, has 13 career caps with the Senior National Team, posting a 10-1-2 record in net, including a 2-1 victory over the top-ranked United States on April 2 in London - England's first win over the USA in 22 years.

England qualified for the finals for the third time since the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991, reaching the quarterfinals in 1995 and 2007, and is unbeaten in its last 10 matches since dropping a 1-0 result to Canada in February of 2010. The team finished unbeaten in its qualification group, conceding only two goals in eight matches, and defeated Switzerland in a two-legged playoff last year by the scores of 2-0 and 5-2 to secure its place in the tournament.

The Three Lions, ranked No. 9 in the world in the official FIFA ranking, open World Cup group play on June 27 against Mexico in Group B and will meet New Zealand (July 1) and Japan (July 5) in their other group fixtures. The quarterfinals begin on July 9 with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage with the winner and runner-up from Group B facing their counterparts from Group A, consisting of Germany, Canada, France, and Nigeria.

Stateside, Bardsley is in her third season with Sky Blue FC of Women's Professional Soccer, appearing in two matches thus far this year. She helped the team to the league's inaugural championship in 2009 and, in 2010, she was a WPS All-Star and a Goalkeeper of the Year Finalist despite suffering a season-ending injury training for the All-Star game. Bardsley is one of three Sky Blue FC players on England's roster, joined by teammates Eniola Aluko and Anita Asante.