USWNT, Tobin Heath Bring #SheBelieves Initiative to Somerset County

Before Basking Ridge native Tobin Heath was patrolling the midfield for the United States Women’s National Team and before she was winning National Championships at the University of North Carolina, she was a girl playing soccer for Ridge High School.

Heath is about to embark on her second trip with the USWNT to Canada for the upcoming 2015 FIFA Women’s World in Canada, but before she does that she and teammate Heather O’Reilly, of East Brunswick, are coming to Somerset County as a part of the #SheBelieves initiative.

The Women’s World Cup begins on June 6.

The two USWNT teammates and Garden State natives are coming to Zarephath on Sunday, May 24.

The USWNT is spending the week with a celebration focused on their local communities and on young kids. The initiative called “#SheBelieves in her Community” is their way of giving back to the communities and the young fans that support them by giving the message “#SheBelieves”.

The #SheBelieves campaign wants to demonstrate to young girls that they can achieve all of their goals and dreams.

“We want everyone to have that confidence on and off the field,” USWNT captain and Point Pleasant Boro High School graduate Christie Rampone said in a release. “The #SheBelieves initiative allows us to interact with the fans and encourage them to set high goals and strive to reach them no matter what the obstacles.”

Heath currently plays at the professional level for Portland Thorns FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She joined Thorns FC in July 2014 after finishing her season with Paris Saint-Germain in France.

Heath appeared in four matches as a substitute in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, appearing in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final in her first World Cup at the senior national team level, the club said. According to her player biography, Heath is regarded as one of the most technically gifted and skillful dribblers on the USWNT.

She played collegiate soccer at the University of North Carolina, where she and the North Carolina Tar Heels won the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship in 2006, 2008 and 2009. She finished her college career with 19 goals and 32 assists. Heath is a 2006 graduate of Ridge High School.

Heath was one of four New Jersey State residents to make the 23-player roster, joining Christie Rampone, of Point Pleasant; Carli Lloyd, of Delran; and Heather O’Reilly, of East Brunswick, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

Heath and O’Reilly’s event in Zarephath will be the final event in the #SheBelieves campaign before the team heads off to Canada for the Women’s World Cup.

For more information regarding the #SheBelieves initiative or to read a letter written by the USWNT to their fans, visit the U.S. Women’s National Team website.