Following a disappointing showing at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada this summer, US Soccer has started the next cycle — hoping to play in the 2016 WWC — a little early with a camp in Chula Vista, California, starting October 12th.
DEFENDERS (9): Gabriella Carreiro (FC Stars of Mass; Upton, Mass.), Lucy Davidson (FC Portland; Warren, Ore.), Natalie Jacobs (Slammers FC; Coto de Caza, Calif.), Ellie Jean (Oakwood Soccer Club; Coventry, Conn.), Tegan McGrady (MVLA; San Jose, Calif.), Kaleigh Riehl (BRYC; Fairfax Station, Va.), Parker Roberts (KC Dynamos; Leawood, Kan.), Ally Watt (Pride Soccer Club; Colorado Springs, Colo.), Michelle Xiao (Gretna SC; Omaha, Neb.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Alyssa Baumbick (Internationals Soccer Club; Avon Lake, Ohio), Betsy Brandon (Colorado Rush; Littleton, Colo.), Marley Canales (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Katie Cousins (Richmond United; Forest, Va.), Julie James (Sting; Fairview, Texas), Courtney Petersen (Michigan Hawks; Canton, Mich.), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Taylor Racioppi (PDA; Ocean Township; N.J.), Marissa Viggiano (Michigan Hawks; Macomb Township, Mich.)
FORWARDS (10): Bridgette Andrzejewski (PSC Baltimore; Lutherville, Md.), Alissa Gorzak (Eclipse Select Soccer Club; Naperville, Ill.), Kelcie Hedge (Washington Premier FC; Post Falls, Idaho), Hana Kerner (Match Fit Academy FC; Upper Saddle, N.J.), Reilly Martin (Eclipse Select Soccer Club; Carmel, Ind.), Kayla McCoy (Sockers FC; Lincolnwood, Ill.), Leah Pruitt (West Coast FC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Zoe Redei (Eclipse Select Soccer Club; Highland Park, Ill.), Kelly Sweeney (Vardar; Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Kaycie Tillman (Sting; Rowlett, Texas)
Of the 32 players called in, most have recent experience with either the U-17s or U-18s, or both. Nine players were on the U-17 team that failed to qualify for the U-17 2014 WWC last November; another seven were called into U-17s camp last year but didn’t make that WCQ squad. Fourteen players were with the U-18s in 2013 and early 2014, but only six had any time in camps prior to May 2014, making most of them relatively new additions to the U-18s pool.
Four players were with the team that just competed in the U-20 Women’s World Cup, finishing the last cycle; of those, two players — Mallory Pugh and Taylor Racioppi — were on the U-17 WCQ team, while the other two — Kaleigh Riehl and goalkeeper Rosemary Chandler — came from the U-18s.
Seven of the 32 players are brand new to the US Youth National Team system.
Most notable of this roster: Mallory Pugh — who was on the U-17 WCQ team and then the 2014 U-20 WWC team — was also called into the U-18 camp this month, which kicked off the next cycle for that team. Those U-18s will be prepping for the 2018 U-20 Women’s World Cup, which means that Pugh is already on her way to competing in two more U-20 cycles through the next four years, in addition to the U-17 cycle she started on in 2013. She has also committed to play for UCLA starting in 2017.
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