U.S. Women's Soccer Team to China

CHICAGO (AP) â€” The U.S. women's team will play in China for its first games of 2001, its sixth visit to that nation. <br><br>The Americans, who beat the Chinese to win the 1999 World Cup, will play

Tuesday, December 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHICAGO (AP) â€” The U.S. women's team will play in China for its first games of 2001, its sixth visit to that nation.

The Americans, who beat the Chinese to win the 1999 World Cup, will play China on Jan. 11 in Pangyu, and on Jan. 14 in Hangzhou.

In its last visit to China, the United States won a 1998 tournament that also featured Norway and Sweden. The Americans won the 1991 World Cup in Guangzhou, China.

None of those China '91 veterans will make this trip. U.S. head coach April Heinrichs will bring younger players, including several 2000 Olympians. The Chinese also will field a young team.

``I'm excited to go back to China for the first time 10 years,'' said Heinrichs, who played in the 1991 World Cup. ``The team that we'll be bringing will be young, enthusiastic and a bit internationally naive, but as always, they'll go with the American spirit to do our best and never quit.''

The next Women's World Cup will be held in China.

``The 2003 Women's World Cup is a long ways away, but this trip will almost certainly open the window of opportunity for some of these young players,'' Heinrichs said.