[Edit, 28-Aug-2012: The official reason for Robinson not being at this camp is that she has a medical issue. (TopDrawerSoccer.com)]
The official roster for the United States Under-17 Women’s National Team’s August camp (USSoccer.com) was released a couple hours after an earlier post here that listed an unofficial roster based on a published gallery of team photo portraits. All twenty-three players listed in the earlier post are on the official roster, with no additional players named. Not on the roster is midfielder Sarah Robinson who had apparently pulled out of the team in order to compete with her club at USYSA national championships.
During the camp, the U-17s will play their age cohorts from China in two friendlies: the first on Wednesday, August 22nd and the second, on Saturday, August 25th. Both matches will played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, and will kick-off at 3:00 p.m. local time. The friendlies are open to the public, with free admission.
After the camp, which runs until Sunday, August 26th, head coach Albertin Montoya will name the 21-player roster for the U-17 Women’s World Cup. So, the roster could be announced as early as that day, but more likely, as early as Monday the 27th.
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THE OFFICIAL ROSTER
Goalkeepers (4):
Jane Campbell
Cassie Miller
Morgan Stearns
Claire Wheatley
Defenders (7):
Brittany Basinger
Maddie Bauer
Mandy Freeman
Gabbi Miranda
Lizzy Raben
Morgan Reid
Claire Wagner
Midfielders (7):
Morgan Andrews
Joanna Boyles
Lauren Kaskie
Arielle Ship
Morgan Stanton
Toni Payne*
Andi Sullivan*
Forwards (5):
Emily Bruder
Summer Green
Darian Jenkins
Amber Munerlyn
Midge Purce
*Both Payne and Sullivan have been used as forwards.
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LOOKING AHEAD: THE U-17 WWC ROSTER
To get down to the 21-player tournament roster, just 2 players will need to be cut from the camp.With 4 ‘keepers in camp, one of those cut players will be a goalkeeper, as 3 are required on the tournament roster.
The most likely ‘keeper to be cut is Claire Wheatley, who is somewhat of a surprise call-up, and appears to be in camp as an emergency back-up in case of injury to anyone of the other goalkeepers: Jane Campbell, the #1 ‘keeper, who played every minute of qualifying; Cassie Miller, the other goalie on the qualifying roster; and Morgan Stearns, the second ‘keeper on the overseas camp roster when Campbell was unable to go due to a slight injury.
That leaves one field player to be cut, which will probably be a defender. The starting back line is settled: Brittany Basinger, Maddie Bauer, Mandy Freeman, and Gabbi Miranda. The three remaining defenders in camp are Lizzy Raben, Morgan Reid, and Claire Wagner. Wagner only came back into the mix this summer, but seems to be the only pure centerback outside the starters, while Raben and Reid were just used as substitute fullbacks during qualifying. On that basis, Wagner probably has an advantage and seems more likely to make the roster, with Raben being the player most likely to be cut.
If a defender is not cut, then of the midfielders and forward, Arielle Ship is the only player who was not on the qualifying roster, and on that basis would be the most likely player cut. But, Ship, who has been used as a fullback and a winger under Montoya this year, would appear to have versatility as one of her pluses. Also, midfielder Lauren Kaskie has some experience as a fullback, so a roster without Raben or Reid would still have multiple options for back-up fullbacks.
Women's Soccer Express 