The U.S. women’s national team will play its final game of 1998 against Ukraine in Fresno, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 20. The match will take place at Fresno State University’s Bulldog Stadium, with kickoff at 1 p.m. (PT) and will be broadcast live on ESPN. This will also be the last game before the USA goes into full-time residency camp in Orlando, Fla. to prepare for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The U.S. women have posted a record of 20-1-2 this year, and with a win over Ukraine, will tie the U.S. record for victories in a year, set in both 1991 and 1996. A victory or a draw will also allow the USA to tie the record for fewest losses in a year in which it played more than six matches. The American women lost just once in both 1994 and 1996. The match will conclude a busy year for the defending Olympic champions, who played games on three different continents and in nine states across the USA. Ukraine comes to the USA after recently losing out on a berth to the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. By finishing second in European Qualifying Group 1 to Sweden, Ukraine earned the right to face Germany in a two-game playoff series, but fell 5-0 in Germany and drew 1-1 in Ukraine for a 6-1 aggregate loss. This will be the second-ever match between the two countries. The USA won the initial clash, 6-0, in Campinas, Brazil, back on Jan. 18, 1996. “Having one final match before we head into residency camp is extremely valuable as we haven’t been together since late September for the U.S. Women’s Cup,” said U.S. coach Tony DiCicco. “Ukraine’s draw with Germany in European Women’s World Cup qualifying shows they are much improved since the last time we played. It will be a good event for us to get some fitness back and see where we need to improve heading into Florida.” Tickets for the USA-Ukraine match go on sale Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. (PT) and are available from the Fresno State University ticket office at (209) 278-3647) and all Northern California BASS ticket outlets. Tickets range from $10-$20.