Another UM Connection In Beijing

BEIJING, China— The University of Mobile is well represented at the 2008 Summer Olympics currently taking place in Beijing. Aside from the Venezuelan Olympic Softball Team, which features several current and former Lady Rams, Mobile fans also saw a familiar face on the Norwegian Olympic Soccer Team.

Former Lady Ram, Ane Stangeland-Horpestad was the Team Captain and a starter on the Norwegian team that went 2-2 in Beijing. Norway defeated the United States and New Zealand, but was ousted in the Quarterfinals by Brazil in a 2-1 defeat.

Stangeland-Horpestad, who played for UM in 2000, scored the game-winning goal for Norway in the 81st minute versus Canada at the Women's World Cup. Also the captain of the Norwegian National Team, she named 1st-Team NAIA All-American, All-Conference and All-Region while at the University of Mobile. She also won Region XIII Player of the Year honors under coach Uwe Tittl, and helped lead the team to a 16-5 record and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament.

Norway qualified for the Olympic games by defeating China in the Quarterfinals of the 2007 World Cup. Norway won Gold in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and finished with the Bronze in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

(http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Team/9991084.shtml)