U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team heads to N.C. for training camp

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team will come together for a training camp in Efland, North Carolina, running from June 15-23, as U.S. head coach Michelle French has called up 23 players to continue preparations for the 2016 Women’s World Cup being held in Papua New Guinea from Nov. 13-Dec. 3.

The roster includes U.S. U-20 captain Mallory Pugh, who has spent most of the year playing for the full Women’s National Team. The 18-year-old Pugh has played in the first 12 matches this year for U.S. head coach Jill Ellis’ squad, earning her first 12 caps along with eight starts and has scored two goals with a team leading six assists. Pugh has scored 13 goals in 19 Under-20 international matches.

The 16-team field for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is strong, featuring Canada, Mexico, the USA, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela, France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden.

The 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup features the 16 nations divided into four groups of four teams. The top two finishers in each group will advance to the quarterfinal stage to be held on Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25. The winners of those games will advance to the tournament semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The championship and third-place matches are set for Saturday, Dec. 3.

The Final Draw for the tournament was conducted on March 17 and the USA will face France, New Zealand and Ghana in Group C. The U.S. opens the tournament on Monday, Nov. 14 against France at 4 p.m. local time, faces New Zealand on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and finishes the group against Ghana on Monday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m.

U.S. U-20 WNT Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (4): Emily Boyd (California; Seattle, Wash.), Rose Chandler (Penn State; Atlanta, Ga.), Brooke Heinsohn (NEFC; Norfolk, Mass.), Casey Murphy (Rutgers; Bridgewater, N.J.)

DEFENDERS (7): Madeline Elliston (Penn State; Omaha, Neb.), Emily Fox (FC Virginia; Ashburn, Va.), Sabrina Flores (Notre Dame; Livingston, N.J.), Ellie Jean (Penn State; Coventry, Conn.), Natalie Jacobs (Notre Dame; Coto de Caza, Calif.), Taylor Otto (CASL; Apex, N.C.), Kaleigh Riehl (Penn State; Fairfax Station, Va.)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Carlyn Baldwin (Tennessee; Oakton, Va.), Marley Canales (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Katie Cousins (Tennessee; Forest, Va.), Savannah DeMelo (Beach FC; Bellflower, Calif.), Kelcie Hedge (Washington; Post Falls, Idaho), Emily Ogle (Penn State; Strongsville, Ohio), Courtney Petersen (Virginia; Canton, Mich.), Parker Roberts (Florida; Leawood, Kan.)

FORWARDS (4): Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Ashley Sanchez (SoCal Blues; Monrovia, Calif.), Jessie Scarpa (North Carolina; Lakeland, Fla.), Ally Watt (Texas A&M; Colorado Springs, Colo.)