June 30, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Aline Reis may have been selected as an All-American after her freshman season in 2008, but the UCF women's soccer goalkeeper received another honor that may mean even more to the Brazilian. On Monday evening, Reis was named to the Brazil National Team's camp as it prepares for World Cup qualifying.
"Getting called to the Brazilian National Team is definitely a great and exciting surprise," said Reis. "I feel very pleased right now and I am looking forward to joining the Brazilian group. It will certainly be a great experience for me and I'll try my best to learn as much as I can from it."
Reis will join the world's second-ranked team July 6 for a two-week training camp, with Brazil trailing only the United States in FIFA's June rankings while it is one spot ahead of Germany. It will scrimmage July 11 against some of the best players from the city of Juiz de Fora, a Brazilian town in the province of Minas Gerais which boasts several women's professional teams.
When Brazil's final roster is complete, it will be competing in the Confederação Sul-Americana de Futebol's (CONMEBOL - South American Football Confederation) Sudamericano Femenino. Also known as the South American Women's Championship, 10 countries will vie for two spots in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. Dates for competition were not yet available.
Reis earned All-American status by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America last season, becoming the first Knight since 1995 to be tabbed as an All-American, a list that includes four-time honoree Michelle Akers. A native of Campinas, Brazil, Reis sat out the 2008 season due to an injury and came back as a redshirt freshman to guide UCF to a 14-6-3 record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
One of just three freshmen in the country to be on either the first or second All-America teams by the NSCAA, Reis had six shutouts and made 107 saves, which were tied for fifth on UCF's single-season list.
Reis will be the second Knight this summer to suit up for Brazil, as sophomore Andrea Rodrigues joined the Under-19 Team for a training camp June 22-July 4.
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