Ali Riley has been doing magical things with a soccer ball ever since she first laced up a pair of cleats. Now, she’s about to make more magic in Beijing, China, as a member of the New Zealand national team, which will be making its first appearance in the Olympics. Riley, a junior at Stanford University, already has 19 caps for the Football Ferns and will play a vital role in midfield at the Summer Games next month. “I have dreamed of going to an Olympic Games since I first picked up a soccer ball,” Riley said. “I am truly honored to have been given the opportunity to represent my country.” Riley, 20, was an All-CIF and All-Mission League player at Harvard-Westlake High in North Hollywood and has placed first in her age group in the Palisades-Will Rogers race several times. She was the Palisadian-Post’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2006. “We are very proud of Ali making the New Zealand Olympic squad,” Stanford Coach Paul Ratcliffe said. “Everybody involved in our program is looking forward to watching Ali represent New Zealand in China, and the New Zealand-United States game [August 12] where she will face former Stanford teammates Rachel Buehler and Nicole Barnhart.”
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