BY SCOTT FRENCH
Soccer America Senior Editor

The last time the U.S. women's national team saw Mexico's, Maribel Dominguez struck twice in the first 15 minutes — both from balls over the top of the U.S. backline — and an upset appeared in the making.

Dominguez had scored two goals two days earlier in a 2-1 stunner over Canada in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament's pivotal semifinals.

Mexico's lead on the U.S. women didn't last — Lindsay Tarpley scored just before halftime, and Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy netted late goals in a 3-2 triumph — but the message had been clear: In the women's game, Mexico is arriving.

The Tricolores haven't beaten the Americans in 12 meetings, but they'll see if they can make the 13th lucky Sunday at University Stadium at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. ESPN2 will televise live at 1 p.m. MDT (3 p.m. EDT).

''We've been saying [Mexico is arriving] — we've been believing that — but they hadn't gotten the results,'' U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. ''There were indications in all of Mexico's performances during the Olympic qualifying process that they were going to be a team to be reckoned with.''

The upset of Canada in the semifinals, providing the Mexicans an unexpected berth in this summer's Athens Olympics, and the quick 2-0 advantage over the Yanks in the final seem evidence enough. Heinrichs said she hoped that was somewhere in her players' minds Sunday.

''But, you know, we had already qualified, we knew that we were advancing [to Athens], and we were looking at a player-development philosophy in who we played and how we played in that final,'' Heinrichs said. ''It bit us in the rear end a little bit, but it was also a real good experience for us to be behind two goals and have to come back.

''I think a team needs to believe they can come from behind. It's not a bad thing if a team has to come from behind on occasion.''

Coach Leo Cuellar's Mexican squad has made huge strides since the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, where they finished, deservedly, third.

Dominguez, who played last season with the WUSA's Atlanta Beat, is a crafty and explosive forward, and she's well-partnered by Iris Mora, whose game has broadened in two seasons at UCLA. Fatima Leyva and former W-League standout Paty Perez lead a skillful midfield group, and the defense is anchored by Americans Monica Gonzalez, Marlene Sandoval, Lisa Gomez and goalkeeper Jennifer Molina.

In total, seven of the 18 players on Mexico's ''preliminary'' roster for Sunday's game were born or raised in the United States.

Gonzalez, the Tricolores' captain, is from the Dallas area, was an All-American at Notre Dame and played for the WUSA's Boston Breakers.

Molina, from Massachusetts, starred at Colgate University; Gomez, from Miami, is a University of Miami product; and Californian Sandoval is a rising star at Cal State Fullerton.

Other Americans on the roster are Cal State Fullerton midfielder Nadia Hernandez, UC Santa Barbara forward Alma Martinez and midfielder Dioselina Valderrama, who is from San Diego. Cal State Fullerton women's head coach Ali Khosroshahin is serving as Cuellar's assistant coach.

Seventeen of the 18 players Heinrichs selected for the April 24 roster against Brazil are headed to Albuquerque, with Shannon MacMillan replaced by Heather O'Reilly. MacMillan was the only U.S. player not to see action in the 5-1 rout of Brazil.

Included are goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill and forward Christie Welsh, who were presented contracts for the remainder of the U.S. women's Olympic Residency in Los Angeles after two strong weeks of training as ''guest'' players.

Luckenbill, the WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year when she won the title with Carolina in 2002, made her international debut against Brazil. Welsh scored a goal and assisted another.

Current ''guest'' players Lori Lindsey and Jacqui Little have been in camp less than a week and weren't selected.

''It's unfortunate the game isn't in a week from now — not this weekend — at the end of our [current two-week training] block,'' Heinrichs said. ''In a perfect world, we'd get three to four weeks to train before we play. It's odd. I don't like taking 18 on a roster and going to play Mexico, and leaving 12 players home.''

The dozen not on the roster, a group including defender Joy Fawcett (returning from back surgery), goalkeeper Siri Mullinix and midfielder Tiffany Roberts, will train with assistant coach Tracey Leone in Carson, Calif., while most of the team is in New Mexico.

Mexico has played often this year in America, winning five of six matches with college teams. The Tricolores lost to Texas in February, before Olympic qualifying, but have beaten Brigham Young (2-1), UNLV (4-2), Notre Dame (3-2), Illinois (3-1) and UTEP (4-0).

The Americans' remaining Olympic preparation matches will be played June 6 (Japan at Louisville, Ky.), July 3 (Canada at Nashville, Tenn.), July 21 (Australia at Blaine, Minn.) and Aug. 1 (China at Hartford, Conn.).

U.S. ROSTER
May 9 vs. Mexico at Albuquerque, N.M.
(with current affiliation/college or former WUSA club)

Goalkeepers
24 Kristin Luckenbill (Carolina Courage), 1 cap/0 goals
1 Briana Scurry (Atlanta Beat), 136/0

Defenders
6 Brandi Chastain (California Storm-WPSL), 175/30
15 Kate Markgraf (Boston Breakers), 116/0
21 Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Charge), 17/0
3 Christie Rampone (New York Power), 116/4
4 Catherine Reddick (University of North Carolina), 54/4

Midfielders
7 Shannon Boxx (New York Power), 21/9
23 Lori Chalupny (University of North Carolina), 7/0
11 Julie Foudy (San Diego Spirit), 251/44
13 Kristine Lilly (Boston Breakers), 271/95
16 Lindsay Tarpley (University of North Carolina), 21/7
10 Aly Wagner (Boston Breakers), 61/14

Forwards
9 Mia Hamm (Washington Freedom), 255/148
27 Heather O'Reilly (University of North Carolina/New Jersey Wildcats-W League), 17/0
12 Cindy Parlow (Atlanta Beat), 141/68
20 Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom), 35/25
30 Christie Welsh (Hampton Roads Piranhas-W League), 22/13

Head coach: April Heinrichs. Assistants: Greg Ryan, Phil Wheddon.

MEXICO ROSTER
vs. United States May 9 at Albuquerque, N.M.
Preliminary
(with current club/college or former WUSA team/college affiliation where available)

Goalkeepers
1 Jennifer Molina (Colgate University)
12 Pamela Tajonar (Alqanza)

Defenders
5 Maria Castillo
2 Lisa Gomez (University of Miami)
4 Monica Gonzalez (California Storm-WPSL)
13 Carina Maravillas
3 Marlene Sandoval (Cal State Fullerton)

Midfielders
16 Nadia Hernandez (Cal State Fullerton)
8 Fatima Leyva
7 Evelin Lopez
11 Paty Perez
14 Luz Saucedo
15 Dioselina Valderrama (Bonita Rebels)
6 Monica Vergara

Forwards
9 Maribel Dominguez (Atlanta Beat)
10 Iris Mora (UCLA)
17 Teresa Worbis (Rogers)
18 Alma Martinez (UC Santa Barbara)

Head coach: Leonardo Cuellar. Assistants: Ali Khosroshahin, J. Rosario Pina.