International soccer star Michael Owen tallied a hat trick for the England National Team in its 3-2 win over Colombia at Giants Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, and will next return to the soccer pitch when he conducts a free clinic sponsored by Umbro for 200 kids ages 10-14 at Hofstra on Wednesday, June 1.
Owen will also hold a press conference open to all media members in the Hofstra University Club from 2-3 p.m., then conduct the free clinic at Hofstra Soccer Stadium from 3:15-5 p.m. Registration for the clinic has already been filled.
Owen has had a busy week building up to his appearance at Hofstra. He finished his 2004-05 professional season for Real Madrid (Spanish League) when he scored a goal in its 3-1 win over Real Zaragoza in its finale on Saturday. He then crossed the Atlantic to join the England National team on its American tour and tallied his hat trick in the win over Colombia, scoring his final goal in the second half on a pass from Real Madrid teammate David Beckham. England also defeated the United States 2-1 in Chicago on Saturday on its current tour (without Owen and Beckham), giving the United States national team its first loss on its home soil in over two years.
Considered one of the 10 most recognizable soccer players in the world, Owen burst onto the international soccer scene as a teenager at the 1998 World Cup in France, when he scored one of the most memorable goals in the tournament in a second-round game against Argentina (which England eventually lost on penalty kicks). He was named the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) Sports Personality of the Year in 1998, after becoming the youngest player in the 20th century to compete for England's National team.
Owen also scored a pair of goals at the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, including one in England's 2-1 loss to eventual World Cup champion Brazil in the quarterfinals (the only goal Brazil allowed in its four championship round games). He also had a memorable hat trick in a 5-1 World Cup qualifying win against Germany in 2001.
A native of Chester, England, Owen had a dominant career for Liverpool in the British Premier League, scoring 30 goals in his first professional season. He scored 158 goals in 297 appearances in the Premier League, before transferring to Real Madrid in the summer of 2004, joining Beckham and Brazilian star Ronaldo. Owen's 13 goals this season tied him for second on the team behind Ronaldo.
Members of the Hofstra Men's and Women's soccer teams will also assist with the Umbro clinic on Wednesday.
