Hemeon Begins Team USA Competition Tuesday

Jan. 7, 2013

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa sophomore Dani Hemeon will begin competition with the USA U21 Junior National Squad tomorrow in New Zealand. It opens a 13-day stretch where Team USA will compete in the U21 New Zealand Tour and the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

“Dani’s participation with the Women’s U21 National Team is an extraordinary opportunity,” said UI head coach Tracey Griesbaum. “To be playing with and against the best players in the world in that age group is exceptional. Dani is a powerful player with great attacking instincts. The Hawkeyes are proud of her accomplishments thus far and look forward to her continued success.”

After wrapping up training camp in Moorpark, Calif., Team USA traveled to Auckland, New Zealand, where it opens play Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. (local time) against New Zealand. It is the first of four matches with the final taking place on Jan. 12.

From Jan. 14-20, Team USA will compete in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, Australia, against Great Britain, China and Australia.

Hemeon, a midfielder, started all 21 games in 2012, tallying team highs in points (24) and goals (11). The goal total ranked 10th in the Big Ten. The Gilroy, Calif., native closed out the season by scoring in all three of Iowa’s postseason contests — two in the Big Ten Tournament and one during Iowa’s 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance against Virginia.

Hemeon scored a pair of game-winning goals as a sophomore against UC Davis and Central Michigan. She scored twice against UC Davis, marking the first multi-goal game of her Iowa career.