U-17 USWNT: What Our Neighbors Have Been Up To… (March 2012)

The CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, which begins May 2nd, is a month away. The United States Under-17 Women National Team is currently in its final training camp (April 1st through the 10th, more details, here). Meanwhile, fellow group stage opponent Mexico had a training camp in Mid-March (through the 24th or 25th) and Canada just wrapped up a training camp, where they played against one of the USA’s group stage opponents: Trinidad and Tobago.

Quick Reminders:

  • In addition to Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago, the USA’s other group stage opponent is debutante Bahamas. This is the first CONCACAF finals for the Bahamas’s soccer federation at any level, men’s or women’s.
  • The other group, Group B, has Canada, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Panama.
  • Three spots are available for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan. This is up from two in 2010, when Trinidad & Tobago hosted the U-17 WWC, and the USA failed to qualify due to a penalty kick shootout loss to Canada.

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MEXICO (GROUP STAGE OPPONENT)

Recent  Preparations: Prior to the most recent camp, Mexico held camps in October and December. During the December camp, they scrimmaged against Canada’s U-17 WNT twice, losing both matches. During those two matches, Mexico failed to score, outside of an own goal for Canada’s benefit. The own goal was a wayward header by defender Jessica Valadez. FMF news items: first match, second match.

At the most recent camp, the squad had two scrimmages versus Cerritos College‘s women’s soccer team. Cerritos College is a two-year community college in Norwalk, California. In those matches, Mexico won the first match 2:0 win, while drawing the second 3:3. In the second match, Mexico actually led 2:0 at the 66′ mark, but then gave up three goals in a span of seven minutes (74′, 78′, 81′). Mexico then scored an equalizer in the 86th minute. Goal scorers for Mexico: Luz Duarte (2) and Jessica Morales (3).

Mexico’s Latest Roster:

These names are taken from the line-ups for Mexico’s recent scrimmages in which 25 players saw minutes. The roster for CONCACAF qualifying is 20 players, so at least five of these players will be cut.

At least half of the 25 players live in the United States. And, if my research is correct, that number is at a minimum, 15. At least two players, Jenny Chiu and Cynthia Pineda, have been in USWNT youth camps. Jenny Chiu, a forward, is the most notable, as she has already verbally committed to UNC.

Players with USA connections are bolded. CAPITALIZED names denote that the player attended a USWNT youth camp.

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CANADA (POSSIBLE KNOCK-OUT STAGE OPPONENT)

Recent  Preparations: Canada has had five camps since August 2011. In December, Canada played Mexico twice, winning both times: 2:0 and 1:0. Goal scorers: own goal, Summer Clarke, Jasmin Dhanda. (For Mexico’s perspective, see these two FMF news items: first match, second match.)

In February, Canada held a camp down in Florida, where they scrimmaged against Germany’s U-17 WNT.  In the 60 minute scrimmage, neither team scored. (After this, the U-17 USWNT would also play Germany in Florida, defeating them 2:0 and 1:0 in test matches.)

Canada’s latest test match opponent was Trinidad & Tobago,* which is one of the USA’s group stage opponents. Canada won both test matches by the same scoreline of 3:0. Goal scorers: Amandine Pierre-Louis, Valerie Sanderson (2) and Nichelle Prince (3).

*Trinidad & Tobago is coached by Even Pellerud who helmed the senior national teams of Norway (1989-1996) and Canada (1999-2008) prior to taking over T&T’s WNT in 2008.

Canada’s Latest Roster:

These 22-players were part of the most recent camp, which was held in Florida and Trinidad & Tobago. Two players, who are both goalkeepers, live in the USA: Taylor Bucklin, a 2013 verbal for the University of Michigan; and Allison Spencer. This was Spencer’s first camp.

  • Taylor Bucklin (GK; CFC United, USA) — verbal commitment to Michigan
  • Kailen Sheridan (GK; Pickering SC)
  • Allison Spencer (GK; Utah Avalanche, USA)
  • Rebecca Pongetti (CB; Oakville SC)
  • Madeline Iozzi (FB; Pickering SC)
  • Kadeisha Buchanan (DF; Erin Mills Mighty Eagles U-16)
  • Emily Nickerson (DF; Valley)
  • Victoria Pickett (DF; Glen Shields)
  • Carley Radomski (DF; unlisted, lives in B.C.)
  • Aman Shergill (DF; Surrey United)
  • Larisa Staub (DF; Angels SWU)
  • Ashley Lawrence (MF; Erin Mills Mighty Eagles U-16)
  • Nicole Loncar (MF; Brams United SC)
  • Rebecca Quinn (MF; Erin Mills Mighty Eagles U-16)
  • Sabrina Santarossa (MF; CS Vallée Richelieu)
  • Summer Clarke (FW; Richmond Red Hot Selects U-16)
  • Jasmin Dhanda (FW; Surrey United)
  • Isabella Habuda (FW; unlisted, lives in Windsor)
  • Elissa Neff (FW; Calgary Blizzard Juventus U-16)
  • Amandine Pierre-Louis (FW; Saint-Leonard)
  • Nichelle Prince (FW; Pickering SC)
  • Valérie Sanderson (FW; FC Boisbriand U-16)
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