Mexico’s head coach, Leonardo Cuellar, has called up 21 players for the upcoming City of São Paulo International Tournament (Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo), including a first-time invite for Under-20 standout forward Sofia Huerta of Santa Clara University, which caps off a whirlwind year for Huerta. Of the 21 players called up, besides Huerta, five other currently attend American universities: Renae Cuellar, Oklahoma; Alina Garciamendez, Stanford; Anisa Gujardo, Pepperdine; Arianna Romero, Nebraska; and Bianca Sierra, Auburn. From Mexico’s U-17 Women’s National Team, two players have been invited into the senior camp: captain Karla Nieto, and midfielder Paulina Solis, who is only 16 years-old (1996 birthday). Also among the twenty one is 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Teresa Noyola.
In the tournament, which runs from December 9th to the 19th, Mexico will face Denmark, Brazil, and Portugal in a single round-robin phase. The top two teams will then face off in a title match, while the bottom two teams will meet in a consolation match.
For Sofia Huerta, this call-up highlights a whirlwind year for a player who began the year on the outside looking in at the United States U-20 WNT, then in May tried out with Mexico’s U-20 WNT (SantaClaraBroncos.com), made the roster for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, came off the bench in the first group match where she scored a consolation goal, and then started and scored the game-winning goals in both of Mexico’s remaining group stage matches, for a total of 3 goals in 4 matches, including the game-winners in both of Mexico’s victories (Huerta’s FIFA.com profile).
The roster in full, with player’s club information and birthdays, both per the FMF, in parentheses:
Goalkeepers (2):
Cecilia Santiago (Laguna; b. 19-Oct-1994)
Pamela Tajonar (Club Atlético Malaga, Spain; b. 02-Dec-1984)
Defenders (8):
Marcela Valera Ceballos (Chivas Guadalajara; b. 12-Apr-1987)
Alina Garciamendez (Stanford University; b. 16-Apr-1991)
Kenti Robles (FC Barcelona, Spain; b. 15-Feb-1991)
Arianna Romero (Univerity Of Nebraska; b. 29-Jul-1992)
Jennifer Ruiz (Bay Area Breeze; b. 09-Aug-1983)
Rubí Sandoval (L.A. Vikings; b. 18-Jan-1994)
Bianca Sierra (Auburn University; b. 25-Jun-1992)
Paulina Solís (Colegio Once; b. 13-Mar-1996)
Midfielders (6):
Dinora Garza (U.A.N.L.; b. 24-Jan-1988)
Karla Nieto (Club Galeana Morelos; b. 09-Jan-1995)
Teresa Noyola (Ado Den Haag, Netherlands; b. 15-Apr-1990)
Verónica Perez (Stjarnan, Iceland; b. 18-May-1988)
Nayeli Rangel (U.A.N.L.; b. 28-Feb-1992)
Teresa Worbis (Itesem Puebla; b. 12-Dec-1983)
Forwards (5):
Renae Cuellar (University Of Oklahoma; b. 24-Jun-1990)
Maribel Domínguez (Baaxal Eek; b. 18-Nov-1978)
Mónica Ocampo (Real Halcones; b. 04-Jan-1987)
Anisa Guajardo (Pepperdine Univesity; b. 10-Mar-1991)
Sofia Huerta (Santa Clara University; b. 14-Dec-1992)
Source: FeMexFut.org.mx
Thirteen of the players on the roster participated in Mexico’s unsuccessful bid to qualify for this year’s Olympics. Players from that roster who are not on the above roster are goalkeeper Anjuli Ladron; defenders Luz Saucedo, Natalie Garcia, Marylin Diaz, and Christina Murillo; midfielder Monica Alvarado, and forward Chrystal Martinez.
This tournament will be the first action for Mexico’s WNT since February, when it participated in the Yongchuan International Women’s Tournament.
A write-up on Brazil’s roster was posted earlier.
See Also:
Official website for the City of São Paulo International Tournament (in Portuguese)
Portugal’s tournament roster (FPF.pt, in Portuguese)*
Denmark’s tournament roster (DBU.dk, in Danish, but no write-up)
*One of Portugal’s players is American-born Adriana Rodrigues who currently plays for the Jacksonville University (Florida). In September 2011, she appeared in an official match for Portugal, a 2013 Women’s Euro qualifier versus Armenia (Rodrigues’ UEFA.com profile). Prior to being a member of Portugal’s senior WNT, Rodrigues was a member of Portugal’s U-19 WNT and Brazil’s U-17 WNT.
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