Marquette University Athletics
Roethe and Bothwell To Battle U.S. National Team
2/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 8, 2000
MILWAUKEE - Women's soccer players Kelly Roethe (Wauwatosa, Wis. / DSHA) and Mo Bothwell (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) will represent Marquette as members of a collegiate all-star team that will take on the U.S. National Team in Garrett Game III this Friday, Feb. 11, at the Bradley Center. The contest is scheduled to start at approximately 8 p.m. (CT) during the halftime of the Milwaukee Wave-Detroit Rockers game.
"It's an honor to participate in this event," Roethe said. "To be on the field with the national team is a thrill, and also is somewhat nerve-racking. These are the best players in the world, so it's awe-inspiring. However, we'll be out to prove that we belong and compete with them, too."
A 40-minute charity event, the Garrett Game was started by a group of concerned Milwaukee area residents to support national team star Mia Hamm and her late brother, Garrett, who underwent a bone marrow transplant in February 1997. Two months later, he passed away due to complications from aplastic anemia. Proceeds from the now annual event benefit the Mia Hamm Foundation and the Garrett J. Hamm Fund at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
This year's game features a U.S. Team still surging after earning the World Cup title this past July. Expected to join Hamm are a majority of her teammates from that squad, including goalkeeper Briana Scurry and midfielders Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain, who netted the decisive penalty kick in the Americans' championship victory over China at the Rose Bowl.
The collegiate team is comprised of several All-Americans, including Player of the Year Mandy Clemens, and several high-profile players from the Milwaukee Area.
"We're excited to have Kelly and Mo playing with such an elite group of collegiate players, and playing against the best women's team in the world," Marquette head coach Markus Roeders. "Having players get the chance to compete against the U.S. National Team is an honor, and a challenge. The spirit of the game - the reasons it were started and why it continues - are aspects that our program is proud to be associated with. It's a heart-stirring event for many reasons."
Roethe and Bothwell led the Golden eagles to their first-ever Conference USA Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament this past season. After knocking off #21 Missouri 3-2 in four overtimes in the opening round, Marquette dropped a 1-0 decision at #8 Clemson. Roethe, a senior, concluded her highly-decorated career as Marquette and C-USA's all-time leading scorer. Bothwell, who will be the lone goalkeeper for the collegiate squad, is expected to lead Marquette's bid to defend its C-USA title next Fall in her senior season.
