[RISING STARS] For the first time, two sisters are on the same U.S. national team competing at an international championship.

Sisters Kristen and Samantha Mewis were named to the U.S. under-17 girls national team that will compete at the 2008 CONCACAF U-17 Girls Championship, beginning Friday in Trinidad & Tobago.

Kristen, 17, and Samantha, 15, are both midfielders who attend Whitman-Hanson, Mass., High School and play for SC Scorpions.

Samantha led the USA with goals, including the game-winner, to help the team win the Future Stars Tournament in New Zealand.

"Both of them, from camp to camp, have gotten better each time I've seen them both, on the field and off" U-17 coach Kazbek Tambi told the South Shore Express said. "They are big-time players and big-time people. At the moment, they are a big part of our  program."


U.S. U-17 GIRLS ROSTER:
GOALKEEPERS: Alexa Gaul (Eclipse Select, Ill.), Taylor Vancil (Eclipse Select, Ill.), Kelsey Wys (Parkland Predators, Fla.)
DEFENDERS: Morgan Brian (Ponte Vedra, Ga.), Amber Brooks (Arsenal World Class, Pa.), Cloee Colohan (Black Diamond Park City SC, Utah), Crystal Dunn (Albertson Fury, N.Y.), Alexis Harris (Dallas Texans, Texas), Julia Roberts (McLean Freedom, Md.)
MIDFIELDERS: Kathryn Bennett (Crossfire, Wash.), Olivia Klei (Pleasanton Rage, Calif.), Kristen Mewis (SC Scorpions, Mass.), Samantha Mewis (SC Scorpions, Mass.), Sydney Payne (RSL Florida, Fla.), Erika Tymrak (IMG Soccer Academy, Fla.)
FORWARDS: Tani Costa (Leahi SC, Haw.), Victoria DiMartino (Albertson Fury, N.Y.), Samantha Johnson ( Real So Cal, Calif.), Rachel Nuzzolese (Rockville Centre, N.Y.), Courtney Verloo (South Side Strikers, Ore.)

Click here for more on the U-17s.