On Tuesday, USWNT group opponent Colombia announced its 18-player Olympic roster for its Women’s National Team (ColFutbol.org). Only 14 of the 18 players on the roster participated in the Women’s World Cup last year. The four new players all currently play collegiate soccer in the USA: Natalia Ariza, Stefany Castaño Cardozo, Ana María Montoya, and Melissa Ortiz. No alternates were named.
According to Brazil’s soccer confederation, the CBF, Colombia is one of the five teams participating in a tune-up tournament in Switzerland prior to the Olympics (CBF.com.br, in Portuguese). The other four teams are Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland.
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COLOMBIA’S SEMI-OFFICIAL OLYMPIC ROSTER
(Positions are culled from FIFA.com and other sources)
Goalkeepers:
Castaño Cardozo, Stefany [Graceland U. (Iowa, NAIA)]
Sepúlveda, Sandra [Club Dep. Formas Íntimas (Ant)]
Defenders:
Arias, Nataly [not available; U. of Maryland alumna]
Ariza, Natalia [Austin Peay State University (Tennessee)]
Gaitán, Natalia [U. of Toledo (Ohio)]
Peduzine, Kelis [Club Eba (Atlántico)]
Midfielders:
Domínguez, Yulieth [Club Dep. Estudiantes F.C. (Tolima)]
Montoya, Ana María [U. of Arizona]
Montoya, Daniela [Club Dep. Formas Íntimas (Ant)]
Rincón, Yoreli [Club XV de Piracicaba (Brazil)]
Rodallega, Carmen [Club D. Carlos Sarmiento Lora (Valle)]
Salazar, Liana [U. of Kansas]
Velásquez, Oriánica [Indiana U.]
Forwards:
Andrade, Lady [Club Internacional (Bogotá)]
Ariza, Tatiana [Austin Peay State U. (Tennessee)]
Ortíz, Melissa [Lynn U.]
Usme, Catalina [Club Dep. Formas Íntimas (Ant)]
Vidal, Ingrid [U. of Kansas]
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ROSTER NOTES
The five players cut from the June camp were:
- Jessica Hurtado (MF) — Jacksonville University (2008-2011, Florida)
- Chelsea Marie Cabarcas (MF) — Iona College (New York)
- Catalina Perez (GK) — Team Boca (Florida)
- Katerin Castro (MF) — Club Dep. Estudiantes F.C. (Tolima)
- Fatima Montaño (DF) — Club D. Café Águila Roja (Valle)
Both Castro and Montaño were on the WWC roster last year, and played significant minutes (209 minutes, 3 matches; 180 minutes, 2 matches). Perez is a very young goalkeeper (1994 birthday).
Edit: Montaño was cut due to an ACL injury to her right knee which happened at the team’s final domestic training camp. Source: www.caracol.com.co (in Spanish).
Women's Soccer Express 