http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Centennial/01/Where-Are-They-Now-Roberts.aspx Good read on Tiff. http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens...nni-Names-29-Player-Training-Camp-Roster.aspx U.S. Women’s National Team Training Camp Roster by PositionGOALKEEPERS (5): Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), Jane Campbell (Concorde Fire South), Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Jill Loyden (Sky Blue FC), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC) DEFENDERS (9): Rachel Buehler (Portland Thorns FC), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina), Whitney Engen (Liverpool FC), Julie Johnston (Santa Clara), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Heather Mitts (Boston Breakers), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City) MIDFIELDERS (10): Yael Averbuch (Göteborg FC), Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Lauren Cheney (FC Kansas City), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lori Lindsey (Washington Spirit), Carli Lloyd (Western NY Flash), Kristie Mewis (FC Kansas City), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC), Keelin Winters (Chicago Red Stars) FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Tyresö FF), Amy Rodriguez (Seattle Reign FC), Abby Wambach (Western NY Flash) Id love see Kealia Ohai get a chance but that's probably unlikely.
Hopefully the new WNT coach knows that Yael is not a wide midfielder. He might actually give Whitney a decent chance.
Why the heck is Amber Brooks name not on this list???? Doesn't the captain of the US U-23 team who was MVP of a prestigious international tournament even get a look? And How about Kling??
http://www.pitchsidereport.com/2013/01/15/kling-a-la-impromptu-entry-6-shouldering-a-heavy-burden/ She's in recovery stage. I still feel Amber has some work to do. Bayern will help her. Though honestly to push veterans off the team, you got to make a big splash. They have the edge on every young player. Show the new coach that they're just as good. It's not easy task.
Per SoccerAmerica, USSoccer: U.S. U-18 February Training Camp Roster includes future Heels Romero, Bruder, Buckingham and Castleberry. They'll train alongside the U-20s, whose camp roster includes current Heels Green and Gardner, who I believe is being called for national team training for the first time.... Recent verbal Kate Morris made the u-17 camp roster.
All this seems logical to me.... However, I've never been able to make complete sense of the U-18 YNT. Since FIFA reorganized the international cups to U-17, 20, and 23 (which actually makes good sense developmentally) the U-16 and U-18 groups have gone to no-man's land. U-16 has kinda dropped off the map, while U-18 has more camps. Getting these age groups together appear to be intended (especially the 18s) to be a venue to look at talent that missed previous call-ups at other age groups. In other words,he U-17s and U-20s are focused on honing a cogent team to compete in the youth world cups. If a player didn't make those teams, then do they simply drop off the map or does the national staff keep an eye on their development by asking them to U-18 camps. Taylor Ramirez got a look at U-18 (and then again at a U-20 camp) and then dropped off. Reilly Parker has been on the U-18 for several years. Romero is getting some looks recently (and probably would not have had she not committed to UNC.) Is being on the U-18 a kiss of death? Still trying to figure it out.
Oh, WRT Kate Morris, she's been a regular on previous U-15 rosters, so there's no surprise there. As has been mentioned before, recruiting at such an early age is really problematic -not only for the coaching staff who have to judge who might plateau and who will continue to develop into their college years, but especially for us interested but basically ignorant fans who don't get to see most of these players in person. As an example, reading various sources regarding who has been invited to various camps and garnered praise, etc, for 2015 I expect two Alanas to be top recruits (Alana Hockenbull and Alana Cook) plus Jill Vetere and Kayce Tillman to all end up in the top echelon. So if Anson recruits lesser-knowns, it really piques my interest as Chris and he really might be looking at potential three years down the line as opposed to those that have peaked early. The latest example would obviously be Hannah Gardener who was completely under the recruiting radar, and who basically walked on from the local high school and is now camping with the U-20s.
SH, then again, perhaps others who have been watching her perform regularly have chosen her on her merits. Don't forget national team coaches get input from many circles, unlike us fans who are more dependent on what we can dig up in text online.
Mens match for charity on 2/24 at UNC... The Columbus Crew and its charitable arm, the Crew Soccer Foundation, unveiled plans for the inaugural Kirk Urso Memorial Match. The Black & Gold will play a preseason exhibition game against the University of North Carolina on February 24, with all proceeds benefitting the Crew Soccer Foundation’s Kirk Urso Memorial Fund. The Urso Fund was launched in late 2012 to support heart health research and programming in memory of the Crew midfielder who passed away at the age of 22 from a congenital heart defect last August. The match pits the Crew against Urso’s college alma mater at Macpherson Stadium in Browns Summit, N.C. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on game day (the student price on game day will remain $10). Standard seating and lawn seating are both available, with all tickets serving as general admission. Tickets can be purchased or donations made online. Additionally, there will be auction items at the match benefitting the Urso Fund, including: 2013 Columbus Crew team-signed items, UNC men’s basketball tickets, a signed ball from U.S. Women’s National Team legend Mia Hamm and more.
A look at the 2013 class (and a bit at the 2014s) The 2013s so far lined up for UNC are an interesting bunch. Another huge class which will likely means that some of them will be red-shirted given that the 2014 class is very small. Of the 2013s, national team players Emily Bruder and CASL's Joanna Boyles will start or see serious playing time. One rung down will be Nicolette Driesse and Raleigh product Cameron Castleberry. They will likely be a regular part of the substitute rotation. After that it gets real interesting with Carolina's 2013s. There are 5 players who, depending on how they develop could go either way. These players are Jenny Chiu, Dominique Romero, Amanda Rooney, Maggie Bill, and Sarah Firstenberg. If they respond well to the Tar Heel environment in practice and early in the season, they could become valuable contributors as freshmen. If they need a little more time to develop, red-shirting might make a lot of sense as they will become much more valuable in 2014 once regular starters Dunn, Ohai, and Morris (plus regular sub McFarlane and former starting keeper Sieloff- who you will remember played in the midfield for much of the 2011 spring season) have graduated. In the current 2013 list, this then leaves three recruits who are in the "you never can tell" category. Like Ball and Gardner they may come on strong and surprise everyone...or not. Kelly McFarlane's little sister Darcy will be coming from California, Danae O'Halloran from New Jersey, and local product Maya Worth will get good looks. As for 2014, essentially all of the recognized top recruits have committed. Carolina has three players committed: one well regarded NT blue chipper (Megan Buckingham), a strong club player from the bay area in California (Annie Kingman), and a club player from Florida (Rasha Roberts.) All three committed early last year, so with over two years to go before matriculation, development will be a huge issue. I wouldn't bet against Chris' and Anson's judgment here. Pedigree/accolades or not, any or all of these three could come on really strong for the Tarheels.
Danae O'Halloran unfortunately had to have an ACL repair last fall according to an NJ.com news story. But here is an interesting report of a goal she scored last summer with an assist from Yael Averbuch after Amber Brooks had "crashed the frame, which cleared out some room behind her." http://www.njwildcats.com/home/644361.html
Signing Day Surprise: Amber Munerlyn signs with the Heels! First Bruder, now Munerlyn. If the chemistry is right, we are gonna ROCK the attack this year. We already know these two have killer chemistry with Green from the national squad.
She changed her mind when she was rooting against us and wearing Stanford clothing during college cup game. I also saw Dominque Romero at that game and she was cheering for UNC believe it or not. What do you think happen? She didn't get admitted to Stanford. Same thing happen to two Tar Heel recruits Jessica Holmes and Nikki Driesse. Though people wanna believe that Anson ran those two off for Amber. Which is not true at all.
Ummm, it is true. Stanford tells players like Bruder and Munerlyn they are committed even when there is no chance of them academically getting in. And then UNC can pick up the scraps, but have to toss aside players that committed to them long ago to make room and now those players are screwed. I don't see this changing as UNC can screw over players but still pick up great performers willing to take the risk.
..and we're off to the races! Did you not see the sweet assist from Green to Munerlyn on that breakaway goal? If not, you need to check it out. Chemistry looked pretty effective to me! Aside: SoccerTrustee, enlightened opinions are always welcome here. Just because you say something is true doesn't earn you instant credibilty, however.
On a different topic, Tarheel fans, any word on whether the ACC intends to keep playing a full regular season round robin as it expands? This is an important question in relation to NCAA Tournament at large selections and seeds.
Tarheel fans will be interested to note that Hannah Gardner and Summer Green started for the U-20 scrimmage while Cameron Castleberry started and Meghan Buckingham got good PT on the front line for the U-18s... all at the recently concluded national camps in California.
Spring schedule announced: http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&SITE=UNC&DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=206463853
Yes, that's: March 7, 7:00 PM ......... Elon College, at Elon, NC March 24, 12:00 .............Florida, at Wake Med Soccer Park, Cary NC March 30, 3:00 ..............Washington Spirit, at Germantown, MD, Soccerplex April 7, 12:00 ................ Western NewYork Flash, at Sahlen's Stadium, Rochester, NY April 13, 11:00 ............... Duke, at Clemmons, NC Apil 13, 2:00 .................. Va Tech, at Clemmons, NC
Not a fan of spring games. They are pretty pointless. It's a whoever is around will play. We lost Indi Cowie last year because of the glorified scrimmage. The incoming players won't be there. So how does give you idea what your going have. Like I said it's pointless.