(Edit, 10-Apr-2012: It appears that Micaela Capelle tore her MCL during a spring game versus the University of Washington on April 1st, which was a day before the roster was released. So, that seems to be the likely reason for her absence.)
Next week, the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team will be convening at The Home Depot Center for their first camp since qualifying for the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup. (USSoccer.com news release) Twenty-five players will be rostered for the camp, including nineteen of the twenty players from the CONCACAF Championship in Panama. The only player from Panama who is not rostered is forward Micaela Capelle of the University of Portland. During the camp, the team will play two international friendlies versus China’s U-20 WNT.
The time and location details for the two friendlies:
The camp will feature two full international matches against the China U-20 Women’s National Team on
April 9April 12 and 15. Fans are invited to attend both matches, which will be staged on Field No. 3 at The [Home Depot Center]. Both games will kick off at 3 p.m. PT and admission is free.
I think the April 9th date is wrong, as the U-17 USWNT is also scheduled to play China’s U-20 WNT on the 9th, but at 4pm Pacific. Edit: The press release has been updated, the first match is on the 12th.
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CAMP ROSTER
Details are only provided for the players who were not on the CONCACAF Championship roster.
Goalkeepers (5):
Bryane Heaberlin
Jami Kranich (5’10”, Villanova; Hamden, CT.)
Emily Kruger (5’11”, Cal (UC-Berkeley); Woodside, CA)
Emily Oliver (5’7″, Stanford; Flossmoor, IL)
Abby Smith
Defenders (8) :
Stephanie Amack
Olivia Brannon
Crystal Dunn
Caprice Dydasco (5’3″, UCLA; Honolulu, HI)
Kassey Kallman
Lauren Lindstrom (5’9″, Fresno State; Newbury Park, CA)
Mollie Pathman
Cari Roccaro
Midfielders (7):
Morgan Brian
Vanessa DiBernardo
Julie Johnston
Sarah Killion
Mandy Laddish
Ashley Meier (5’10”, Cleveland Whitecaps; Strongsville, OH)
Samantha Mewis
Forwards (5) :
Maya Hayes
Lindsey Horan
Kealia Ohai
Katie Stengel
Chioma Ubogagu
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ADDED PLAYERS: NOTES
Goalkeepers:
Essentially, we have three ‘keepers competing for the third goalkeeper spot at he U-20 WWC. At this time, Stanford’s Emily Oliver probably has the best chance of making the roster, at least on paper, as (1) she has attended more U-20 WNT camps, (2) was the only U-20 goalkeeper to attend the special U-23 camp in September, (3) has the best pedigree, given Stanford’s 2011 national title and 2010 runner-up finish, and (4) has the best collegiate stats (0.23 goals against average; 23 matches; 1941 minutes; 5 goals allowed; 65 saves; .929 saves ratio).
Jami Kranich of Villanova, who was the only goalkeeper besides Heaberlin and Smith to be at the U-20 camp in January, saw her first national team call up of this cycle in December at a “U-18” camp. Kranich’s 2011 stats: 1.78 GAA; 19 matches; 1744 minutes; 35 goals allowed; 75 saves; .682 saves ratio.
This will be Emily Kruger‘s first U-20 camp, although, oddly, she did attend the January U-23 camp in Florida. Kruger, who plays for UCLA, was likely only called up for that camp due to the absence of the highly-touted Bianca Henninger. Kruger’s 2011 stats: 0.91 GAA; 22 matches; 1985 minutes; 20 goals; 62 saves; .756 saves ratios.
Defenders:
Two additional players have been called in UCLA’s Caprice Dydasco and Fresno State’s Lauren Lindstrom. Dydasco, who is listed as a midfielder for UCLA, will probably be tested out on the flanks as a fullback. This is Dydasco’s first U-20 camp. Previously, in this cycle, she had attended a March 2011 U-18 camp. Dydasco, who has a 1993 birthday, was in contention for the 2010 U-17 WNT, but suffered an ACL injury prior to the 2010 CONCACAF Championship. Also, something to file under awkward: Dydasco is roommates with U-17 WNT veteran centerback Abby Dahlkemper, who is one of the notable absences from the roster.
Meanwhile, Lindstrom appears to be a centerback candidate. This is only her second national team call-up, with the first coming last July. Here’s a local TV news feature on Lindstrom, regarding that call-up. (Warning: Skip the first 55 seconds, unless you can bear bad news anchor banter. Also, the aspect ratio seems wrong, as in 4:3 stretched to 16:9.)
Midfielders:
In the midfield, everyone from Panama is back, along with one new player, future Virginia Tech Hokie, Ashley Meier. Meier is the Gatorade Player of the Year for Ohio and the 2011 NSCAA High School National Player of the Year.* Virginia Tech coach Charles “Chugger” Adair on Meier:
“With her pedigree and experience she is going to be able to make an impact right away and play somewhere in the spine for us in midfield, up top or even center back…”
This is Meier’s first U-20 camp. Meier, who has a 1994 birthday, is primarily a member of the current cycle’s U-18 pool, having attended at least two camps in 2011 along with the January 2012 U-18 camp. Meier was also in the mix for the 2010 U-17 WNT, but did not make the CONCACAF roster.
*The NSCAA also has a National Youth Player of the Year award, which went to U-17 USWNT captain Morgan Andrews in 2011.
Forwards:
Only five forwards were called up for this camp: Everyone from Panama, except Portland’s Micaela Capelle. At this point, with at least two other domestic training camps left, it is too early to draw anything conclusive regarding Capelle’s U-20 WWC roster status. If Capelle is absent from the next camp, in May, then we can probably rule her out.
Although, not calling in any extra forwards does seem a bit odd. Perhaps head coach Steve Swanson is focusing more on the defensive positions at this camp, with the third goalkeeper spot being a priority. Or, he may be trying out other players such as Julie Johnston or new invitee Ashley Meier as a forward.
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ADDITIONAL THOUGHT(S)
Outside of the players who went to Panama, goalkeeper Jami Kranich is the only player from the January U-20 camp to get a call-back to this camp: Thirty players were called to that January camp, with 19 being selected for the CONCACAF Championship. The twentieth player, Stephanie Amack, attended the semi-concurrent U-18 camp. That leaves ten other players from that camp. This either indicates that Swanson is not satisfied with those ten players, or that he is casting a broad net as he attempts to finalize the roster for the U-20 WWC.
Women's Soccer Express 