ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women's soccer team will host the Puerto Rico Women's National Team on Friday, February 5 at Manchester Meadows at 6 p.m. in an exhibition contest.

This will be the first time that the women's soccer team will play against an international opponent.

"We are excited to play Puerto Rico in their build up to Olympic qualifying," head coach Spencer Smith said.  "This is a great opportunity for our team to play a quality opponent on the international stage."

The Puerto Rican National Team is coming to the United States in advance of their CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship to be held in Frisco, Texas that starts on February 10.  Puerto Rico is slated to play Mexico, Costa Rica and the United States in the group stage in hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. 

Winthrop junior goalkeeper Carly Gustafson will lead Puerto Rico into its first-ever CONCACAF Qualifying Championship.  Gustafson has made 10 appearances in goal for the national team, all coming in qualification rounds for the Olympics. 

She is one of two goalies on the Championship Tournament roster and the only one with game experience.  Of the 19-woman roster, there are only six players with 10 or more national team appearances.  Through 10 qualifying matches, the team went 6-3-1, allowing only 13 goals while netting 33.