U.S. Women: Team to Meet Finland Feb. 27 in Gainesville, Fla.

The U.S. women’s national team will face Finland on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the University of Florida in Gainesville. The game, which will be carried live on ESPN2, kicks off at 4 p.m. (ET). The match is the first full international for the U.S. women in Gainesville and marks the homecoming of NCAA women’s soccer all-time scoring leader Danielle Fotopoulos, who led Florida to the 1998 Division I title in December. Fotopoulos, a native of Altamonte Springs, Fla., finished her four-year collegiate career with 118 goals, including the game-winner in the Gators 1-0 upset of North Carolina. Her final goal total shattered the NCAA all-time scoring record of 103 set by fellow national team teammates Mia Hamm (North Carolina) and Tiffeny Milbrett (Portland). Hamm, who recently became only the third player in international soccer history to score 100 goals, will be looking to break a record of her own as she shoots for the international scoring mark of 108 goals set by Elisabetta Vignotto of Italy. The USA holds a 4-0-0 all-time record against Finland, outscoring them 10-0 in three victories in 1995 with the most recent win coming 2-0 in March 1998. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the University of Florida Athletic Department at (352) 375-4683. The USA opens its 1999 season with a friendly versus Portugal on January 30 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., just four hours from where the team is maintaining residency in Orlando, Fla., in preparation for the Women’s World Cup. Following the Portugal match, the squad hosts the FIFA World All-Stars on February 14 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. in a game that will feature the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Draw at halftime.