Hometown: Orinda, California Club: Walnut Creek Strikers College: UCLA
U.S. National Teams: A member of the U.S. team that won the 2006 CONCACAF Under-20 Final Women’s Qualifying Tournament in Mexico … Played in two matches in Mexico, earning shutouts in both … Has trained with the U.S. U-19 and U-17 National Teams.
High School: Two-time NSCAA All-American … Diablo Foothill Athletic League (DFAL) Defensive MVP in 2003 ... ... Member of the USYSA All-Star Team that toured Germany in the spring of 2003 ... Also First-team all-league in softball and track & field (as a pole vaulter) ...
Club: Led her club team Walnut Creek Strikers to a second-place finish at the Cal-North state cup in 2003 ... Also helped the Strikers win the Premier League Championship in 2002 and 2003.
College: As a sophomore in 2005, she had a fantastic season, earning NSCAA Second-Team All-American honors while helping UCLA to the NCAA title game … Did not allow a goal in the NCAA tournament until the championship match … Started 25 of UCLA’s 26 games and allowed just 12 goals all season … Had a stellar 0.53 goals against average, good for third all-time in the UCLA record books … Was named First-Team All-Pac-10 … As a freshman, she was UCLA's starting goalkeeper in all 25 matches ... An NCAA All-Tournament Team selection after posting five shutouts in postseason play ... A Soccer America Freshman All-American ... Led the Pac-10 Conference in shutouts with 12 and a GAA of 0.67 … Played every minute during all six matches in the NCAA Tournament, surrendering just one goal on a penalty kick in the NCAA Final.
Personal: Full name is Valerie Kay Henderson … Has three sisters, Elizabeth, Rachel and Hannah ... Enjoys rock climbing … Enjoys speed-boating and water sports, especially wakeboarding … Loves to play football … Enjoys beating Danesha Adams consistently at ping-pong … An English major.
Getting to Know…Val Henderson Three words that best describe me off the field: Craaaaazy, Adventurous and Competitive Three words that best describe me on the field: Competitive, Intense and Loud My motto is: “Go big or go home.” The best present I ever received was: My scooter Before I graduate from college, I want to: Win a NCAA championship After graduating from college, I want to: Possibly play soccer in Europe, but for the most part find a job that makes me happy The best class I have ever taken is: Psychology My craziest ambition is to: To play quarterback for UCLA My dream job would be: Eating My favorite food is: Steak My favorite snack is: Honey Bunches of Oats cereal If I'm cooking dinner, we are having: Chicken and pasta You won't catch me eating: Fishy stuff My favorite women's soccer player is: Jill Oakes Soccer player I would most like to model my game after: Briana Scurry The best part about being a soccer player is: The great friends you make If I had to play a sport other than soccer it would be: Football The person I admire most is: Lauren Zuckerman Growing up, my sports heroes were: Joe Montana and Barry Bonds My favorite pet is/was: My dog My favorite TV show is: CSI My favorite movie is: Dirty Dancing My favorite band / musical artist: No Doubt The last concert I went to was: Juliette Lewis and the Licks My favorite vacation spot: Trinity Alps Resort The best looking male movie star is: Paul Walker My favorite cartoon is: David the Gnome My favorite Superhero is: Batman My favorite comedian is: Chris Farley
05/10/2008
U.S. Women
6
Canada Women
0
05/03/2008
U.S. Women
5
Australia Women
4
04/27/2008
U.S. Women
3
Australia Women
2
U.S. U-23 Men vs. Turkey U-23 Men
Live on Fox Soccer Channel
05/21/2008 9:30 AM ET
U.S. U-23 Men vs. Ivory Coast U-23 Men
Live on Fox Soccer Channel
05/23/2008 12:30 PM ET
U.S. U-23 Men vs. Italy U-23 Men
Live on Fox Soccer Channel
05/25/2008 12:00 PM ET
ABOUT U.S. SOCCER
The first USFA (now U.S. Soccer) Secretary General Thomas Cahill also doubled as the U.S. MNT program's inaugural head coach on a six-game tour of Sweden and Norway in 1916.
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