October u20 camp

This just showed up on SoccerWire, the USSoccer notice section

U-20 WNT TO TRAIN IN CARSON, PORTLAND: As part of preparations for the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile, U.S. head coach Tony DiCicco will hold a 20-player camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. from Oct. 19-21. The team will then travel to Portland, Ore. to play two friendlies against Canada on Thursday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 25. The games will be the final international matches for the U.S. ahead of their first game of the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup against Group B opponent France on November 19. The U.S. will then face Argentina on November 22, with both games taking place at the Estadio Nelson Oyarzun in Chillan. The team will then travel to Estadio German Becker in Temuco to conclude group play against China.

U.S. U-20 WNT Training Camp Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Chantel Jones (Virginia), Alyssa Naeher (Penn State), Cat Parkhill (Minnesota)
DEFENDERS (6): Kiersten Dallstream (Washington State), Kaley Fountain (Wake Forest), Lauren Fowlkes (Notre Dame), Liz Harkin (Arizona State), Meghan Klingenberg (North Carolina), Nikki Marshall (Colorado)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Gina DiMartino (Boston College), Becky Edwards (Florida State), Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.), Elli Reed (Portland), Ingrid Wells (Georgetown), Keelin Winters (Portland)
FORWARDS (5): Michelle Enyeart (Portland), Sydney Leroux (UCLA), Alyssa Mautz (Texas A&M), Alex Morgan (California), Nikki Washington (North Carolina)

FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup
U.S. U-20 WNT Group B Schedule

Date Opponent Venue; City
Nov. 19 France Estadio Nelson Oyarzun; Chillan, Chile
Nov. 22 Argentina Estadio Nelson Oyarzun; Chillan, Chile
Nov. 26 China Estadio German Becker; Temuco, Chile

It looks like the UP players got some consideration in travel.

In Portland, hmmm? Wonder where these friendlies might be.....

I would definitely be interested in seeing those three with the national team.

BTW, there are now an even 500 threads in the women's soccer forum.

My guess is that they will be playing at N... err... an undisclosed secret location.

Since the USF and St Mary's games are in California and the u20's will be here, it looks like we will be without their services for both games.

It sure would be great if they played at Merlo, though. The men, if they get in , will be at a tournament game, and the field will be otherwise vacant.

I was just looking at the Canadasoccer.com website to see if they had any information on where the friendly's would be, when I ran across this:

This year's Canadian team at Chile 2008 may rely on three national-team members from the recent Women's Olympic Football Tournament - Sophie Schmidt, Jodi-Ann Robinson and Jonelle Filigno. Other Chile 2008 prospects with national-team experience include Chelsea Stewart (an alternate for the Olympic Tournament), Lexi Marton, Julie Armstrong, Kaylyn Kyle and Monica Lam-Feist. Schmidt was the 2007 Canadian U-20 Player of the Year while Lam-Feist was the 2007 Canadian U-17 Player of the Year. Robinson, meanwhile, was the 2006 Canadian U-20 Player of the Year.

So... Sophie isn't done with the u20's after all? Does she know that?

Pilots have a noon game on the 19th against Pepperdine. Not clear if the three amigas will be able to play in that.

Then the St. Mary's game is on the 26th - the day after the second U20 game.

Any way this turns out is tough for UP.

Hope that they let people in to watch the two U20 games against Canada.

I think we assumed the US policy about releasing players that played on the full team from youth duties maybe doesn't translate to Canada. I feel a little woozie.

I'm pretty sure Garrett said she was done with the u20's at the summer picnic - or at least said she'd be with us for the playoffs. It's more than just a blind assumption.

Still, it is a National team, so you never know...

There will be a new coach of the Canadian u20's when they come to town at the end of the month.


Canadasoccer.com has an announcement that former u20 coach and CNT assistant Ian Bridge was named as the new u20 coach.

this announcement includes this:

Quote:
Former head coach Bob Birarda has since parted ways with the Canadian Soccer Association. The departure was a mutual decision which the Association and Mr. Birarda agreed was in the best interest of both parties. The Association wishes Mr. Birarda all the best in his future endeavours.
an article in the Province from Sept 25 had this.

Quote:
NATIONAL TEAM COACH
BIRARDA WILL NOT APPLY
Vancouver Whitecaps and Canadian women's under-20 head coach Bob Birarda will not apply for the vacant senior national team head coaching job.
Even Pellerud stepped down after the Olympics, having held the position for nine years.
"I've made a decision that I'm not going to apply," Birarda said of the Oct. 15 deadline.
"I have two young kids, and this is a really challenging lifestyle. I'm not sure how much longer I have ambitions to stay at this level."
Birarda, instead, has thrown his support behind former World Cup player and Victoria native Ian Bridge, considered by many to be the frontrunner.
"When you look at what he's accomplished and his dedication to the players, he deserves an opportunity, I think," said Birarda.
U20 WOMEN
CHILE WARMUP
Canada's under-20 women's soccer team returned to Vancouver this week from Chile, where they won a four-nations World Cup warmup tournament.
Jonelle Filigno scored in a 1-0 victory over the host to clinch the trophy. Canada also beat Mexico 2-1 and drew 1-1 with New Zealand, improving its 2008 record to 8-0-2 under Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Bob Birarda.
The squad includes several Whitecaps and local players, including Delta's Julie Armstrong and 17-year-old Monica Lam-Feist of Surrey.
"None of the games were easy for us," said Birarda. "We were maybe a bit rusty to start, but by the end of it, we were able to put together a pretty convincing performance against Chile."
The tournament also served as acclimatization for the women's under-20 World Cup, which is in Chile, starting Nov. 19.
Canada is in Group C with Germany, Congo DR and Japan.

Does anyone know if Ian Bridge supports Canada's direct style of attack or will we see something new from the Canadian side?

BTW Geezer do you think Tony will let the ladies off Sunday Oct 19 to play against Pepperdine? I'll offer to give them a lift to camp after the game!

Ian Bridge coached the u20's in three other campaigns, including the last u20 World Cup where the Canadians with Sinc gained the silver in an overtime finals loss to the US. It was Canada's best performance ever.

I can't remember Canada playing anything but a direct game, so especially so close to the tournament, I'd expect business as usual. They have won the Chile four nation's just recently, and the qualifiers, so I'd be surprised at a big change in Philosophy.


As to the Pepperdine game, I'm not sure. The last time the camp was announced at the 21-28, which included both Sundays, but the camp concluded early and the players played the second Sundays for their teams. I don't know if other players played the first Sunday last time. UP only had the Florida game that weekend. If I had to guess I'd say the players will be in camp for that game, but that's just a guess.


Elli isn't apparently participating in the first half of the camp because she was at the last camp, and as an underclassman will only do the Portland portion so she doesn't have to miss classes. My guess is that she will play in the Pepperdine game regardless. Again, that's only a guess.

Most recent thread I could find on the U20s.

On BigSoccer, a Colorado fan was wondering about what the Buffs will do when their U20 player and CU star Nikki Marshall is gone for the U20 Worlds. In response, I described how the Pilots were managing their U20 players' time and giving time to other players to get ready for the NCAA Tournament. I asked how the Colorado coaches were managing Marshall's time. Here is the response:

"CU hasn't held Marshall back at all this season. Both right before and right after U-20 training camps she gets a lot of time, if the game is on the line."

I think this shows a lot of difference between the Colorado program and the Pilots program. Colorado is trying to get into the Tournament. That is their primary concern. The Pilots seem more protective of their players' physical and mental health, but also are concerned about how they will do in the Tournament rather than about whether they will get there. No disrespect to the Colorado program, but I think this shows a very big difference between their program and ours.

I know I read somewhere in the past few days that the U20 games with Canada would be at the Nike campus on Thursday and Saturday. I can't remember the times. Did anyone else read this and remember the times?