USSF to hold first ever GKs, strikers camp

by U.S. Soccer

December 13, 2016

U.S. Soccer will hold a unique training camp for female players born primarily in 2000, 2001 and 2002 as 23 attacking players and seven goalkeepers will come together from Dec. 14-17 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif., for three days of training focused on shooting, goal scoring and goalkeeping.

The first-ever U.S. Women’s National Team Strikers and Goalkeepers Camp will be run by U.S. Soccer Women’s Technical Director April Heinrichs with U.S. Soccer Women’s Development Coach and U-15 Girls’ National Team head coach Mark Carr overseeing the attacking training while U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper coach Graeme Abel will handle the goalkeeping aspects.

The rest of the coaching staff is made up entirely of former U.S. Women’s National Team and professional players, including recently retired 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions Heather O’Reilly and Lori Chalupny. The staff also includes 1995 FIFA U.S. Women’s World Cup Team member Jen Lalor, former U.S. WNT players Kacey White and Christie Welsh (who scored 20 goals in her international career), and former U.S. WNT goalkeepers Nicole Barnhart (54 caps) and Jill Loyden (10 caps).

The staff includes former U.S. Youth Women’s National Team player Makenzy Doniak, who plays for the reigning NWSL champion Western New York Flash. Doniak scored in the quarterfinal match at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada. Val Henderson, the goalkeeper for the USA’s 2006 FIFA. U-20 Women’s World Cup Team, and Danesha Adams, who won the Bronze Ball as the third best player at that tournament in Russia after scoring against Argentina and twice against Germany, are also on the staff. Former Washington State goalkeeper Katie Huiltin, a veteran of WPS and the W-League, rounds out the staff.

“You develop world class finishers over time and with lots of hours spent with the ball, but this event is about providing inspiration and guidance from some excellent role models so that these young players can return to their club environments and work on their own to hone their skills,” said Heinrichs. “The rationale for this kind of event is to emphasize the process of developing world class attacking players at all levels of our girls’ national team programs.”

The roster includes five players from the USA’s 2016 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup Team and nine players from the U.S. team that won the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Women’s Championship last August in Florida, a side coached by Carr.

2016 Strikers and Goalkeepers Camp Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (7): Ryan Campbell (So Cal Blues; Dana Point, Calif.), Hensley Hancuff (Oklahoma FC; Edmond, Okla.), Ruthie Jones (Charlotte SA; Charlotte, N.C.), Mia Justus (PDA; North Brunswick, N.J.), Meagan McCelland (PDA; Kearny, N.J.), Kathryn Meyer (Real So Cal; Newbury Park, Calif.), Lindsey Romig (IMG Academy; Midloathian, Va.)

ATTACKERS (23): Jordan Canniff (Richmond United; California, Md.), Kayla Colbert (Arsenal FC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Talia DellaPeruta (Tophat SC; Cumming, Ga.), Maya Doms (Davis Legacy; Davis, Calif.), Kailyn Dudukovich (Cincinnati United; West Chester, Ohio), Mia Fishel (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Sunshine Fontes (Honolulu Bulls SC; Wahiawa, Hawaii), Lia Godfrey (JFC Storm; Fleming Island, Fla.), Rachel Jones (Tophat 18; Lawrenceville, Ga.), Payton Linnehan (FC Stars of Mass; Douglas, Mass.), Aryssa Mahrt (FC Wisconsin Eclipse; Wauwatosa, Wis.), Samantha Meza (Dallas Kicks; Balch Springs, Texas), Jenna Nighswonger (Slammers FC; Huntington Beach, Calif.), Brianna Pinto (CASL; Durham, N.C.), Gabrielle Robinson (BRYC Elite Academy; Springfield, Va.), Trinity Rodman (So Cal Blues; Newport Beach, Calif.), Michaela Rosenbaum (Santa Rosa United; Rohnert Park, Calif.), Ashlynn Serepca (Carolina Rapids; Cornelius, N.C.), Sophie Smith (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.), Alexas Spannstra (Michigan Hawks; Brighton, Mich.), Kaylssa Van Zanten (Eclipse Select SC; Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Kate Wienser (Slammers FC; Monrovia, Calif.), Summer Yates (Pac NW; Pasco, Wash.)