(Taken from the Official website of the Eastern Michigan Eagles)

Former Eastern Michigan University women’s soccer standout, Ashley Rodrigues, has earned a spot on the Guyana National Team for the upcoming CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier, Guyana’s Head Coach, Mark Rodrigues announced on January 14. The tournament is set to be played in Texas, Feb. 10-21.

Rodrigues will wear the captain’s arm band in her second major CONCACAF tournament. The former EMU midfielder previously represented Guyana in the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup.  Despite an admirable effort, the Lady Jaguars left the Gold Cup winless.

“We’ve always been an underdog in these competitions, and that hasn’t changed,” Rodrigues said ahead of next month’s competition. “The great part is we like it that way. We know we’ve earned the right to be where we are, nothing has ever been handed to us, or been easy for us. It’s because of these things, that six years later, we’re determined to earn better outcomes this time around.”

A two-time All-Mid American Conference selection under long-time EMU Head Coach Scott Hall, Rodrigues’ name is all over the Eastern Michigan record books.

Suiting up in the Green and White from 2006-09, Rodrigues reeled in MAC Player of the Year honors as a senior. She was also named to the MAC All-Tournament Team, All-Academic Team, and garnered national recognition as an All-Great Lakes Region honoree. The quick footed midfielder holds the EMU record for points in a game, registering seven against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 19, 2007.

In Eastern’s win over the Bulls, Rodrigues netted the fourth hat trick in EMU history while assisting on another goal for the Eagles. She is also one of three players in program history to record three assists in a game, accomplishing the feat against Eastern Illinois University, Sept. 7, 2008.

The 11-day tournament will split matches between two venues for round-robin play. All of Guyana’s group stage games will take place at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, the home of the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League and Houston Dynamo of the MLS. Group A, featuring the United States, will play at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The top-two finishers of each group will advance to the semifinal matches in Houston, Texas. The winner of each semifinal match will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as earning a spot in the CONCACAF Championship match, Feb. 21.

Guyana is currently ranked 92nd in the world and is in the same group as Canada (11th), Trindad & Tobago (48th), and Guatemala (84th).

The Lady Jags begin play, Thursday, Feb. 11, against Canada before taking on Guatemala, Feb. 14. Guyana closes out round-robin play, Feb. 16 versus Trinidad & Tobago. If the Lady Jags finish top-two in their pool they will advance to the semifinal game, Feb. 19, for a chance to play in the championship game, Feb. 21. Other teams competing in the olympic-qualifying tournament are Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, United States. (EMUEagles.com)