U.S. U-19 WNT heads to San Diego for Olympic Training Center camp

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team will hold its second training camp of the year when it comes together from May 16-23 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

U.S. Soccer is staging U-19 WNT programing this year for the first time since 2004 when the age group switched to Under-20s as FIFA’s world championship moved from a U-19 competition that was staged in 2002 and 2004 to the U-20 Women’s World Cup which has been held in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

The reinstitution of the U-19s is a part of an overall increase in programing for the USA’s youth women’s and girls’ national teams which now has teams at the U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels.

All the players in this age group are eligible for the team that will attempt to qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. FIFA has announced that the tournament would be held in Papua New Guinea.

Of the 24 players called up, 18 were born in 1997 and six were born in 1996, which is the age cutoff year for the next U-20 Women’s World Cup. Four of the players are college.

At this camp the U-19 Women’s National Team is being guided by Women’s Development Coach Jitka Klimkova. Her staff will include U.S. Soccer Youth Women’s Technical Director April Heinrichs as well as Women’s Head Development Coach April Kater and Women’s Development Coaches Mark Carr and Tricia Taliaferro.

U.S. U-19 WNT Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ella Dederick (Washington State; Camarillo, Calif.), Devon Kerr (Glen Shields FC; Barrie, Ontario), Lauren Rood (Crossfire Premier; Camas, Wash.)
DEFENDERS (8): Schuyler DeBree (PDA; Fair Haven, N.J.), Indigo Gibson (California; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Ally Haran (Michigan Hawks; Linden, Mich,), Shannon Horgan (Clemson; Long Beach, N.Y.), Ellie Jean (Oakwood SC; Coventry, Conn.), Parker Roberts (KC Metro Dynamos; Leawood, Kans.), Amanda Visco (PDA; Manalapan, N.J.), Michelle Xiao (Gretna Prima; Omaha, Neb.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Dorian Bailey (Sporting Blue Valley; Mission, Kans.), Alyssa Baumbick (Internationals SC; Avon Lake, Ohio), Alissa Gorzak (Eclipse Select; Naperville, Ill.), Michaela Kovacs (Grand Rapids Crew; Hudsonville, Mich.), Carrie Lawrence (Florida Krush; Orlando, Fla.), Briana Solis (Florida Krush; Orlando, Fla.)
FORWARDS (7): Michaela Abam (West Virginia; Sugar Land, Texas), Hana Kerner (Match Fit; Upper Saddle River, N.J.), Madeline McCracken (Richmond United; Lynch Station, Va.), Taylor Otto (CASL; Apex, N.C.), Zoe Redei (Eclipse Select; Highland Park, Ill.), Kelly Sweeney (Vardar; Bloomfield Heights, Mich.), Alleandra Watt (Pride SC; Colorado Springs, Colo.)