Tennessee junior forward Hannah Wilkinson will re-join the New Zealand Women’s National Team for the Football Ferns’ two-match friendly series against the U.S. National Team on Oct. 27 and Oct. 30.
The Kiwis will take on the U.S. at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in the first game, and travel back East to Columbus Crew Stadium in Ohio for the second.
This marks the first time the U.S. and New Zealand have met since the quarterfinals of the 2012 Olympics, which was won by the USA 2-0 on Aug. 3, 2012.
Wilkinson last played for New Zealand earlier this fall in September’s Valais Women’s Cup in Switzerland, where she scored the game-winner for the Kiwis in the 53rd minute of a 4-0 victory over China in the championship match.
Wilkinson has 45 international caps playing for New Zealand and has scored 15 international goals.
She has played in 15 of Tennessee’s 18 games during the 2013 fall season, starting 14 of those. She is tied for the scoring lead with senior Caroline Brown, each with 15 points.
Wilkinson has scored five goals, and has a team-high total of five assists.
She will miss the Lady Vols road game at Missouri, but is expected to be back with the team on Oct. 31 for the regular season final at Vanderbilt.
Wilkinson, one of her country’s top young players, played three games in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, coming off the bench against Mexico and scored the equalizer in extra time.
She also started three group games for New Zealand at the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup, helping force an own boal by host Japan in a 2-2 tie.
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