Aug. 31, 2005

University of Portland freshman midfielder Megan Rapinoe was a Soccer America and Soccer Buzz National Team of the Week selection after recording a pair of goals in Portland's 3-0, season-opening victory against Stanford on Saturday.

The United States Under-21 National Team star dazzled the crowd of 4,524 with stellar midfield play and nearly recorded a first-half hat trick. Rapinoe tallied the game-winner in the fifth minute and then headed home Portland's final strike in the 33rd minute. She put another shot attempt off the crossbar from 20 yards out later in the half. Rapinoe recorded five of the Pilots 20 shot attempts, while the Cardinal managed just three shots in the match.

A native of Redding, Calif. and Foothill High School, Rapinoe redshirted the 2004 season while competing with the U.S. U-19 National Team at the FIFA World Championships. She helped the U.S. U-21 team claim the 2005 Nordic Cup this summer in Sweden.