July 20, 2017 SEATTLE -- Former Gonzaga women's soccer student-athlete, Aliyah Miller, has been named the Team USA roster for the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei, head coach Cliff McCrath announced Thursday.
The roster features student-athletes from 14 different universities across the country. Additionally, Shelley Beck will serve as an assistant coach on the USA staff.
Miller was second on the team this past season with four goals and 10 points. She took 21 shots last year, which also ranked second on the team. She played in every match for GU over the past four years, starting the last 57. Miller finished her career with six goals and 16 points in 75 appearances.
The World University Games, also known as the Universiade, are an international sports competition held every two years and hosted by different countries. The World University Games comprise a summer and winter games held in the same year, and is second only in importance to the Olympics. The 29th Summer World University Games will be held this summer in Taipei, Aug. 19-30, with over 120 countries competing in 22 sports.
Women's soccer competition begins Friday, Aug. 18 with the United States competing in Group A with host-country Chinese Taipei, South Korea, and Argentina. The competition features four groups and 13 countries represented in total. The American side will face South Korea in their opening game with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) at New Taipei City Xinzhuang Stadium. The United States will face Chinese Taipei in its second game, Sunday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m. ET) at Fu Jen Catholic University Stadium. The final round of the group stage will feature the U.S. versus Argentina at New Taipei City Xinzhuang Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m. ET).
Competition will continue Thursday, August 24 with quarterfinal action. Semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 26 with the gold and bronze medal games held Monday, Aug. 28 at Fu Jen Catholic University Stadium.
The USA team will stay in the Athletes' Village, participate in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and interact with over 5,000 student-athletes from around the world.
American fans hoping to watch the games live will have to manage the 12-hour time difference between the U.S. East Coast and Taipei. The opening ceremony will begin at 4 a.m. PT, Saturday, Aug. 19 with the closing ceremony taking place at 4:30 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Aug. 30. Both events will stream live at www.livefisu.tv. The streaming schedule for competition has not been released.