RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, July 22, 2008) – Richmond Kickers Destiny defender Nikki Krzysik helped lead the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team to their 10th Nordic Cup title, defeating Germany 3-0 in the Championship match.  The U.S. defensive unit posted their fourth shutout of the tournament to claim the title in Sweden yesterday. 

A rising senior at the University of Virginia, Krzysik has made six appearances with the Destiny this season, leading Richmond to consecutive shutouts in a 4-0 win over the West Virginia Illusion and a 1-0 victory over the Hampton Roads Piranhas last month.  An active member of the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team, Krzysik was an integral component of the U.S team that won the 2006 CONCACAF U-20 Final Women’s Qualifying Tournament in Mexico.  She also has experience at the U-19 level, making two appearances for the U.S. at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship.   

The USA has faced Germany in the Nordic Cup championship game five times, winning four of those (2000, 2002, 2007 and in 2008). In 2006, Germany defeated the USA to break a string of seven straight Nordic Cup titles. The USA defeated Germany in the Nordic Cup title game last year by a 4-0 score.

Other Richmond Kickers Destiny players Kylie Davies (defender) and Dunia Susi (forward) placed sixth in the tournament with the U-23 England squad, dropping a narrow, 1-0 decision to Finland.  In the other placement matches, Sweden defeated Norway, 2-0, to take third place and Switzerland pounded Scotland, 5-0, to take seventh.

The U-23s serve as a fertile breeding ground for future full National Team players as the majority of the current WNT player pool has passed through the U-21/U-23 program.