Sept. 5, 2006

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M women's soccer freshman Jenelle Nedd will leave the team for a week to participate in a pre-World Cup qualifying match for her native country Trinidad & Tobago, which is part of the CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football).

The Trinidad & Tobago National Team won its first round of pre-qualifying in May, which Nedd has been a part of since 2003. Her teammates went undefeated earlier this year, going 3-0, as they handled their opponents by outscoring them 20-1, including a 10-0 route of Grenada.

Part of the qualifications process is regional matches against countries that are closest, and then playing teams that are further away in the region. Five teams will then get a bid into the World Cup in 2007. However, one other team could get chance to make the World Cup as a wild card.

"We usually don't top the whole CONCACAF, but we do really well against other Caribbean teams," Nedd said. "This round will not be as easy as the first round in May."

Nedd has not always played soccer only begging to play the sport 1999. She played soccer with only her friends and family before finally strapping up for her club team, Joe Public. Many of her club teammates are also on the Trinidad & Tobago National Team.

"It's easy to play with same people all the time, because we know where we are going to be on the field at all times," said Nedd. "We also have the same coach from our Joe Public Club Team, too."

The first match for Trinidad & Tobago is Sept. 6 against Surinam, which won both its first round matches in May. Nedd and her teammates will conclude play of the event on Sept. 10 against the Dominican Republic, who also went 3-0 in May. Trinidad & Tobago is the host for the second round of qualifying.