By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, FEB. 17, 2015 – Demi Stokes continues to work toward making her soccer dream become a reality.

The former USF standout started for the England women's national team in its 1-0 loss to the second-ranked United States on Feb. 13 in Milton Keynes, England. Stokes has represented England at the U19, U20 and U23 levels, and she's appeared in 11 games for the senior squad, including all four World Cup qualifiers.

In addition to being a defender on the national team, Stokes plays pro soccer in her home country for Manchester City. The 23-year-old signed a three-year deal with the club in January after capping off an impressive career with the Bulls.

Stokes, a second-team all-conference selection this past season, ranks sixth in USF history with 17 career goals after scoring four times in 2014. Stokes also ranks sixth in the program's record books with 48 points after helping the Bulls book a trip to the NCAA tournament in 2014.

Stokes graduated in the fall with a degree in general studies with a minor in leadership before heading home to England. She said spending time in the United States as a Bull helped prepare her tough competition at the national and pro levels.

“Part of the reason I went to America was to make me a better player,” Stokes said in an England national team release. "The standard of the league we were in and the opposition we came up against were very good. There were constant matches, so you always had to be sharp and ready to play. It was challenging for sure but the intensity of the league definitely helped improve me as a footballer."

England jumps back into competition at the annual Cyprus Cup in March and Stokes is determined to earn a spot on the World Cup squad.

"When you get interested in football, you instantly start to dream about playing for your country and going to a World Cup,” Stokes said. "To even be in contention for the squad is a hugely exciting thought."

The USF women's soccer team has posted two consecutive 10-plus win seasons and three in the last four years under head coach Denise Schilte-Brown. The Bulls made their first NCAA tournament appearance and recorded their first tournament victory in 2010. USF returns 23 players from last year's roster including All-American Athletic Conference second team forward Demi Stokes and All-Rookie Team defender Leticia Skeete. They also bring back 11 players that appeared in 15 or more games last season.