Forty-six years ago, the country of Chile came to a virtual standstill.
In what has highlighted the locals’ fútbol lore, host Chile defeated the country Yugoslavia to place third in the 1962 FIFA World Cup.
The fiesta of sorts sealed the country’s spot on the soccer map, and this year it plays host again – this time to the women.
“The country is really excited to host the event,” said Liz Harkin, a junior defender on the ASU soccer team. “They are renovating all the stadiums and expecting a lot of people to show up.”
In November, countries from all over the world are going to participate, and part of this year’s U.S. roster means a paramount step for ASU soccer.
Last year, coach Kevin Boyd nominated Harkin for a spot on the Under-20 Women’s National team.
Harkin traveled to Carson, Calif. in April to take part in what’s called an identification camp. There, coaches were able to evaluate players they hadn’t ever seen before finalizing the all-important roster.
“She played very well last fall,” Boyd said. “She’s a great one-on-one defender; she just doesn’t get beaten. Anytime you have an athlete that impacts the game significantly, they are ready for the next level.”
With 34 players competing for 21 spots at the April tryout, Harkin made the necessary impression. She will travel to Chile next month to aid the national squad against France, Argentina and China.
The American squad, coached by Tony DiCicco, has been very successful in the World Cup, as he has never finished out of the top four. DiCicco, Harkin and company is expected to contend again this year in Chile.
For Harkin, a chance to play at the national level means more than can be expressed in a sentence or two.
“It’s two-fold,” she said. “There’s the idea of playing international soccer: it’s a different game, at a different level.
“It’s something I never imagined. Of course you hope for something like this to happen, but it never seemed realistic. The opportunity to represent the country, and of course ASU, is unbelievable.”
But, as hard as Harkin had to work to reach such heights on the field, she said she has always strived to be more than simply a good soccer player.
“I never wanted to be plugged into being ‘just an athlete,’” she said. “School has always been really important to me, and I try to find time to throw a social life in there somewhere.”
Harkin is majoring in biology and society in addition to contributing to the team’s 3.61 overall grade point average, she is also an volunteers in the community.
“When you find a high-level athlete you’re going to find a bit of a perfectionist in them,” Boyd said. “She is very driven.”
Since the spring of her freshman year, Harkin has given her time at local animal shelters and more recently interned at a local Mayo Clinic medical center.
“I do it to have a better concept of what I have,” she said. “A lot of people don’t have the same resources. I’m very fortunate.”
Reach the reporter at emiley.darling@asu.edu.
