Chiawana’s Summer Yates heads to China with U.S. U-19 soccer team

The Chiawana Riverhawks will be without one of their top players as the Mid-Columbia Conference season gets under way.

Senior midfielder Summer Yates was invited to play for the U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team that will be in Duyun, China, from Sept. 2-15 to participate in the CFA International Women’s Youth Football Tournament.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Yates said. “I have always wanted to see the world, travel and play soccer. This is my first trip to China.”

Yates said she got an invitation two weeks ago to play on the team.

“It’s not much notice, but I’m excited,” she said. “I’m going to miss our first five games at school. It is kind of hard being that I am a captain.”

The event also features Under-20 Women’s National Teams from Iran, Japan and host China PR. All matches will be played at the Qiannan Fitness Center Main Stadium.

The USA opens the tournament Sept. 10 against Japan, faces China PR on Sept. 12 and finishes against Iran on Sept. 14.

The tournament will mark just the second meeting between the USA and Iran in women’s soccer. The first was April 2016 when the countries met at the U-16 level. The USA won that historic match, 6-0 in Italy.

Yates also played in that match, scoring three goals and adding an assist.

“It’s always great making history,” Yates said. “I am excited to play them again. I hope they give us a better match this time.”

Yates left Saturday morning to meet her team in Los Angeles. They were scheduled for a couple of practice sessions before leaving Sunday for China.

Yates also played on the national team that went to England in February and Australia in June, not to mention national team training camps in Virginia and California over the course of the summer.

This story was originally published September 3, 2017 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Chiawana’s Summer Yates heads to China with U.S. U-19 soccer team."