U.S. U-20 WNT opens 2015 with Florida camp, match vs. Bayern Munich

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team will begin its 2015 programming with a training camp in Sanford, Florida, running from Jan. 24-31.

U-20 head coach Michelle French has called up 28 players: 18 college players and 10 currently still playing for youth clubs. With almost all the players born in 1996 or 1997, the lone player born in 1998 is midfielder Mallory Pugh, who was a starter for the U-20s at age 16 during last summer’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

This age group is focusing on qualifying for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which has an age cut-off of players born on or after Jan. 1, 1996.

The USA will enjoy a unique match-up during this camp as Frauen-Bundesliga side Bayern Munich comes to Florida to play the U-20s on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. ET at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford. Bayern Munich features forward Katie Stengel, who won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with the USA and has trained with the senior U.S. Women’s National Team.

Bayern Munich, which starts several members of the full German Women’s National Team, is second in the Frauen-Bundesliga behind current UEFA Women’s Champions League holders VFL Wolfsburg.

[player_box id=49279 leftright=right]Besides Pugh, the U.S. roster features three other players who were a part of the USA’s 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup team in goalkeeper Rose Chandler, defender Kaleigh Riehl and midfielder Taylor Racioppi.

The USA will also play the University of Florida during the camp on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. ET at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

U.S. U-20 WNT Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Rose Chandler (Penn State; Atlanta, Ga.), Samantha Leshnak (Ohio Elite; Liberty Township, Ohio), Casey Murphy (Rutgers; Bridgewater, N.J.)

DEFENDERS (10): Maddie Elliston (Penn State; Omaha, Neb.), Sabrina Flores (Notre Dame; Livingston, N.J.), Hailey Harbison (Pepperdine; San Diego, Calif.), Natalie Jacobs (Slammers FC; Coto de Caza, Calif.), Hailie Mace (Eagles Soccer Club; Ventura, Calif.), Annia Mejia (California; Bloomington, Calif.), Courtney Petersen (Michigan Hawks; Canton, Mich.), Kaleigh Riehl (Penn State; Fairfax Station, Virginia), Parker Roberts (KC Dynamos; Leawood, Kan.), Allyson Swaby (Boston College; Chestnut Hill, Mass.)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Dorian Bailey (Sporting BVSC; Mission, Kan.), Rachel Corboz (Georgetown; Green Brook, N.J.), Mikaela Harvey (Texas A&M; Liberty Hill, Texas), Maddie Huster (Wake Forrest; Cincinnati, Ohio), Hannah Lopiccolo (Northeastern; Coto de Caza, Calif.), Emily Ogle (Penn State; Strongsville, Ohio), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Taylor Racioppi (PDA; Ocean Township; N.J.)

FORWARDS (7): Michaela Abam (West Virginia; Sugarland, Texas), Megan Buckingham (North Carolina; Novi, Mich.), Mallory Eubanks (Mississippi State; Lexington, Ky.), Savannah McCaskill (South Carolina; Chapin, S.C.), Jessie Scarpa (North Carolina; Lakeland, Fla.), Ally Watt (Pride Soccer Club; Colorado Springs, Colo.), Jennifer Westendorf (GSA; Grayson, Ga.)