Feb. 2, 2006
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina women’s soccer player Kim Boulos is headed to the U-19 Interregional Tournament held in Carson, Calif. beginning Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Home Depot Center. Boulos, who will be a sophomore next season at Carolina, is a member of the Region I team. All four regions across the United States will play each other in a round-robin format.
“I’m excited to be playing soccer at this time and at this level,” said Boulos. “It gives me another chance to play soccer and compete against top competition from across the country.”
Boulos, who earned a spot on the Region I ODP team in the summer of 2005, earned a spot on the roster for this event over the Christmas holiday break at a training event. Boulos is one of 18 players on the Region I squad for the tournament.
“This is a great chance for Kim to compete with some of the best players in the country for a couple days,” said USC associate head coach Jamie Smith. “It will be a confidence boost for her. It is a good example of how hard work in the weightroom and conditioning as well as the extra hours spent on the field after training pays off.”
Boulos is anxious to put on the garnet and black jersey again after her first season as a member of the Gamecocks. Boulos played in 17 of 18 matches on the year with 10 starts. She scored her first collegiate goal in Carolina’s 3-0 win at LSU on Oct. 23, 2005. With the first year complete, Boulos looks to become a better soccer player at the U-19 Interregional Tournament and use her skills to help Carolina return to the postseason.
“I’m not sure where on the field I’ll play next week,” said Boulos. “When I made the team I earned a spot at center midfield but they asked me if I had played in the back before, and I mentioned I was an outside back here at Carolina last fall. If I play there, I hope to continue to learn and get better at that position for next season. When I came to South Carolina, I had never played defense, so much of my first season I was learning and trying to get better playing a new position. I just want to improve as a player and help the team in any role I can. Hopefully, we will have a good season next fall and we can compete for a championship.”
Boulos is the second consecutive Carolina player to compete at the U-19 Interregional Tournament. Courtney Cobbs played for Region III last year at the same event.
“It is a great honor for a player to be selected at this level,” said Smith. “To have a chance to maybe represent your country is a terrific accomplishment. Last year Cobbs was fortunate to be selected and she represented our team and university well. I am sure Kim will do the same. We all wish her the best of luck. Playing with talented players and at the highest level will help Kim’s knowledge of the game as well ad her speed of play. At this level you cannot be caught on the ball too long and she will be forced to make quicker decisions as well to problem solve.”
U.S. Youth Soccer Region I consists of players who are from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
