On August 29th, the United States Under-17 Women’s National Team roster for this year’s Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan was released by U.S. Soccer. From the team’s CONCACAF qualifying roster, the only player to not make the U-17 WWC roster was midfielder Sarah Robinson, apparently due to an unspecified “medical issue,” while centerback Claire Wagner and third goalkeeper Morgan Stearns were added.
Goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who suffered a knee injury that kept her from traveling with the team to Eastern Europe in July and did not play in the two friendlies versus China, should be match fit in a week or so.
The team will depart from the USA on September 14th and travel to Cyprus for one final pre-tournament training camp.
The United States is in Group B, which has the most difficult grouping in the tournament. Besides the USA, there is a very talented France squad, the always difficult North Korea, and a wild-card in Gambia. U-17 USWNT head coach Albertin Montoya is on record saying that he thinks that this group has three of top five teams in the tournament (USSoccer.com): the United States, France, and North Korea. And, in a recent interview with FIFA.com, he used the “group of death” moniker (dun-dun-duhh).
The USA’s group matches (full tournament schedule at FIFA.com):
September 22nd: vs. France (6:00 a.m. EDT)
September 25th: vs. Gambia (8:00 a.m. EDT)
September 29th: vs. North Korea (8:00 a.m. EDT)
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(For more in depth profiles of most of these players, please see this series of posts on the CONCACAF qualifying roster.)
GOALKEEPERS
(Carolyn) Jane Campbell
Club: Concorde Fire South
Hometown: Kennesaw, Georgia
College: Stanford (verbal, 2013)
Legitimately hyped as potentially the best American ‘keeper to come along since Hope Solo.
Carissa “Cassie” Miller
Club: Sereno FC
Hometown: Cave Creek, Arizona
College: Florida State (verbal, 2013)
A more than capable back-up ‘keeper, who has played significant minutes recently due to Campbell’s injuries.
Morgan Stearns
Club: McLean MPS Power (McLean, Virginia)
Hometown: Burke, Virginia (but now living in Texas due to a parent’s Armed Forces job)
College: U. of Virginia (verbal, 2013)
A “a pretty darn good goalkeeper” according to her club coach, Clyde Watson (a former assistant coach for the Washington Freedom).
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DEFENDERS
Brittany Basinger
Club: FC Virginia
Hometown: Purcellville, Virginia
College: Penn State (verbal, 2013)
A modern end-to-end fullback who is a force anywhere on the field.
Madeline “Maddie” Bauer (co-captain)
Club: Slammers FC
Hometown: College: Newport Beach, California
College: Stanford (verbal, 2013)
Strong in the tackle and in ball distribution.
Miranda “Mandy” Freeman
Club: Coral Springs United (formerly Renegades SC)
Hometown: Royal Palm Beach, Florida
College: Stanford (verbal, 2013)
Commands her area with authority.
Gabriella “Gabbi” Miranda
Club: Colorado Rush
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
College: UCLA (verbal, 2013)
A left-footed left fullback with solid passing skills, but has a tendency to be tentative in the attack.
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Raben
Club: Colorado Rush
Hometown: Greenwood, Colorado
College: Duke (verbal, 2013)
A back-up fullback or centerback with a calming presence, she will likely see playing time in the closing minutes of tight matches.
Morgan Reid
Club: Chelsea Ladies (CASL)
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
College: Duke (verbal, 2013)
An energetic substitute fullback.
Claire Wagner
Club: Chelsea Ladies (CASL)
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
College: Clemson (verbal, 2013)
A late call-up to the squad, the pure centerback helped lead her club team to a national title this summer.
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MIDFIELDERS
Morgan Andrews (captain)
Club: FC Stars of Massachusetts
Hometown: Milford, New Hampshire
College: Notre Dame (verbal, 2013)
In her holding midfield role, the current Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year can launch long pinpoint passes and shots, and also make attacking runs forward.
Joanna “Jo” Boyles
Club: Chelsea Ladies (CASL)
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
College: U. of North Carolina (verbal, 2013)
A traditional attacking midfielder with a powerful shot from distance.
Lauren Kaskie
Club: Heat FC
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
College: UCLA (verbal, 2013)
A left-footed attacking mid who can play anywhere on the left flank, but will probably start most matches on the bench.
Antoinette “Toni” Payne
Club: Concorde Fire
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
College: Notre Dame (verbal, 2013)
Diminutive in stature, but makes up for it with her ball skills and her nose for goal.
Morgan Stanton
Club: Colorado Rush
Hometown: Lakewood, Colorado
College: Santa Clara (verbal, 2013)
The shortest player on the squad, she is a solid passer and dribbler.
Andi Sullivan
Club: Bethesda SC
Hometown: Lorton, Virginia
College: Stanford (verbal, 2013)
A versatile player, she can be used anywhere in the midfield or as a forward.
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FORWARDS
Emily Bruder
Club: Utah Avalanche
Hometown: Sandy, Utah
College: Stanford (verbal, 2013)
No longer a go-to starter due to her on-field struggles.
Summer Green
Hometown: Milford, Michigan
College: U. of North Carolina (freshman)
Youth Club: Michigan Hawks
A prodigious goal-scorer, she evokes comparisons to fellow Michigan Hawks and UNC alumna Lindsay Tarpley.
Darian Jenkins
Club: Sparta SC
Hometown: Riverton, Utah
College:UCLA (verbal, 2013)
A speedy and competent dribbler, she will be a handful on the flanks for the opponent’s defense.
Amber Munerlyn
Club: So Cal Blues
Hometown: Corona, California
College: Stanford (verbal, 2013)
Probably the fastest player on the squad, but lacks a bit of technical ability.
Margaret “Midge” Purce
Club: Freestate Soccer
Hometown: Olney, Maryland
College: uncommitted (rumored to be Harvard)
A speedy and crafty dribbler with one-v-one skills.
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FORMATION NOTES
Likely Starting Eleven: Based on the most recent friendlies against China and the full national team of Slovenia, the likely preferred starting line-up is as follows:
Campbell (GK)
Basinger (RB) — Bauer (CB) — Freeman (CB) — G. Miranda (LB)
Payne (AM) — Andrews (HM) — Sullivan (AM)
Purce (FW) — Green (FW) — Jenkins (FW)
From qualifying the defensive back six — Jane Campbell as goalkeeper, plus the back line, and Morgan Andrews as holding midfielder — remains the same, along with Summer Green retaining her central forward role.
In the midfield, Toni Payne has stepped up in Sarah Robinson’s absence, scoring at least one goal in the team’s last three friendlies. Andi Sullivan is a less certain starter, but now seems preferred over Morgan Stanton.
Up top, Midge Purce had alternating starts in qualifying, but has started the last three friendlies for the team. And, so has Darian Jenkins. Meanwhile Emily Bruder, who started three of five matches during qualifying will likely see time mostly as a substitute.
Plenty of Depth: This squad has a versatile group of field players who can be used at a number of positions. Unofficial depth list, by position:
- CENTERBACKS: Maddie Bauer, Mandy Freeman, Claire Wagner, Lizzy Raben, Morgan Andrews
- FULLBACKS: Brittany Basinger (right or left), Gabbi Miranda (left), Lizzy Raben (right), Morgan Reid (right), Lauren Kaskie (left)
- HOLDING MIDFIELDER: Morgan Andrews, Andi Sullivan, Morgan Stanton
- ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS: Toni Payne, Andi Sullivan, Morgan Stanton, Lauren Kaskie, Jo Boyles, Morgan Andrews, Gabbi Miranda
- FLANK FORWARDS: Darian Jenkins, Midge Purce, Amber Munerlyn, Emily Bruder, Toni Payne, Andi Sullivan, Lauren Kaskie.
- CENTER FORWARD: Summer Green, Amber Munerlyn, Midge Purce, Andi Sullivan.
Women's Soccer Express 