Feb. 26, 2008

NEWARK, NJ - NJIT women's soccer player Erika Taugher is set to return to the international stage, having been called to train with the women's national team of Portugal in preparation for the prestigious 2008 Algarve Cup.

The Algarve Cup, hosted by Portugal, is a full international tournament that ranks behind only the Women's World Cup and the women's soccer competition in the Olympics in terms of international soccer importance.

Taugher is scheduled to depart for Portugal on Wednesday and is slated to return in mid-March. It is likely that she will return to Portugal's women's national team in April, as well.

Taugher, who will turn 22 in April, is a dual citizen of Portugal and her native Canada. Erika's mother, Nelia, was born and raised in San Miguel of the Madeira Islands in Portugal before emigrating to Canada.

Taugher, who grew up in Oakville, Ontario, near Toronto, is enrolled in NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College and has a double major in mechanical engineering and business management, with a cumulative GPA better than 3.7. She also worked a prestigious internship on Wall Street with JP Morgan in the summer of 2007.

Taugher, who earned two caps (soccer terminology for on-field appearances with a national team) playing for Portugal in the March 2006 Algarve Cup, enrolled at NJIT in 2004 and starred in 2004 and 2005, before an injury limited her to action in just one 2006 game when the Highlanders played their first season of NCAA Division I competition.

She made a successful return in 2007, regaining her form and appearing in all 19 games (18 starts), with a goal and a team-leading three assists for five points (tied for third on the team) in her personal Division I debut season. She was a second-team all-United Soccer Conference honoree following the season.

Her career totals of 13 goals, 11 assists and 37 points rank among the best in the 12-year history of NJIT women's soccer. She is the all-time leader in career assists and total points and is tied for the career lead in goals.

The NCAA recently granted her another season of playing eligibility, due to her injury in 2006, which will enable her to return for a fourth season of action in 2008.

The Algarve Cup, in addition to host Portugal, includes the women's national teams of the United States, Norway, France, China, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Iceland and Poland. The competition will be help from March 5 to 12. The USA, with five titles, leads all nations in Algarve Cup championships. Reigning Women's World Cup champion Germany has won the Algarve Cup once.