Former Bull going to World Cup

USF women’s soccer coach Logan Fleck can find talent. In 1996, he lured midfielder Kristine Edner to Tampa from her native Norway to play for the Bulls. In three seasons, she became USF’s all-time single-season leader in shots and goals, while earning her first-team All Conference USA recognition each year.

“She was the beginning, she was amongst the few women who went undefeated in conference play,” Fleck said. “She helped build the foundation of what the younger players are doing now.”

Edner received another accolade on Monday when she was selected to be a member of Norway’s World Cup team, the sixth USF player under Fleck to do so. The United States is hosting this year’s World Cup, with Norway playing its first match against France on Sept. 20 in Philadelphia.

“It means everything (to her), really everything,” Fleck said. “It is one of those things that you dream of and get scared of because you are afraid people will think you are crazy that you dreamed it.”In her career at USF, Edner is second in goals, points, assists and shots.

Since leaving USF, the 26-year-old from Roa has represented Norway on 10 occasions, scoring once. Of the 20-woman roster, Edner will compete with four other midfielders for playing time. She is one of 10 Norwegians without Olympic or World Cup experience.

The defending Olympic Gold medalists, Norway, is ranked No. 2 by soccer’s world governing body FIFA, behind the United States.

Joining France and Norway in Group B are Brazil and Korea. Norway plays Brazil on Sept. 24 in Washington and Korea Sept. 27 in Foxboro, Ma.

“We have a pretty tough group, but it is not as difficult as Group A,” Norway coach Age Steen told FIFAworldcup.com. “We open against France, and I think that is good for us. We have to beat them in our first match to gain our confidence, and we have had some good results against France in the past. I think we have just the right blend of players to do very well at the World Cup.”