Women through to Quarter Finals
FAI Crest
The World Student Games, or World University Games as they are now officially known, first took place in 1927 with Rome hosting the event. The games which encompass several different sports in like fashion to the Olympic Games have had a chequered history with several changes in title. Up until 1939 the games were called International University Games.

Interrupted by the war, the games were revived in 1947 under the name World Student Games but a rift between the east and west blocs caused the games to split with each group holding their own games. The two sides were reunited in 1957 and the 1959 games held in Turin were the first to use the term Universiade.

The current games are taking place in Izmir, Turkey and Ireland are represented in a number of sports not least both men and women’s soccer. The men’s team is being managed by Liam Murphy who is Cork City’s Technical Director and coach to their U17 team. The newly appointed full time manager of the Republic of Ireland Women’s teams, Noel King is in charge of the ladies.

The Irish women’s team was drawn in Group A of the tournament and faced Chinese Taipei in their opening fixture. The match was played in blistering heat with temperatures reaching 30 degrees and ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw. This was an encouraging performance from the Irish women as Taipei were favourites to win the Group. The result was made more meritorious by the fact that the Irish team came from behind on three occasions.

The scoring sequence was:- Cheng (Taipei) 8 minutes, Laura Hislop 30 minutes, Tsai (Taipei) 51 minutes, Laura Hislop 66 minutes, Lin (Taipei) 67 minutes, Mazarello Sweeney 83 minutes. Hislop is a student at the Franklin Pierce College, New Hampshire in the USA and Sweeney at IT Sligo. In the other group game, hosts Turkey scored a 2-1 success over New Zealand.

The Irish women faced the hosts in their second group fixture and a sparkling second half hat trick from Sonya Hughes, another student of the Franklin Pierce College, was the catalyst for a resounding 3-0 victory. The other group fixture saw New Zealand provide a huge upset by defeating favourites Chinese Taipei 2-0 thus setting up a top of the table clash with Ireland in the final group match.

 The group decider was again played in simmering heat but this did not prove too daunting for the Irish team who took early control of matters and scored on 14 minutes through Edel Malone from Galway Mayo IT. On the stroke of half time, Marie Gallagher of the Lyndsey Wilson College in the USA doubled the Irish lead. A comfortable victory was ensured in the 71st minute when Gallagher scored her second of the match to guarantee Ireland’s passage to the quarter final stage.

Final Group A Standings:

 
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Ireland
3
2
1
0
9
3
7
Taipei
3
1
1
1
8
7
4
New Zealand
3
1
0
2
3
5
3
Turkey
3
1
0
2
4
9
3

Ireland Squad:

Carey,Maureen Purdue University, USA
Cooke,Catherine College of Commerce
Curtin,Marie Hofstra University, New York
Dunne,Emma NUI Maynooth
Gallagher,Marie Lyndsey Wilson College, USA
Griffin,Emma Waterford IT
Henchy,Louise University of Limerick
Hislop,Laura Franklin Pierce College, USA
Hughes,Sonya Franklin Pierce College, USA
Jenkins,Rachel Dublin IT
Kirwan,Julie Slippery Rock University, USA
Mallett,Victoria Queens University, Belfast
Malone,Edel Galway Mayo IT
Moran,Alisha Harvard University, USA
Mullin,Emma IT Sligo
O’Connor,Elaine Hofstra University, New York
O’Driscoll,Kacey University of Limerick (Hofstra University)
Pepper,Janine Colaiste Ide
Sweeney,Mazarello IT Sligo
Toolan,Aisling Trinity College , Dublin

Franklin Pierce College link to match report by College
Hofstra University link to match report by College