United States women's national under-23 soccer team

United States Under-23

Nickname(s)	Team USA The Stars and Stripes The Yanks
Association	United States Soccer Federation
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Head coach	Steve Swanson
FIFA code	USA
First colors Second colors
Nordic Cup
Appearances	12 (first in 1997)
Best result	Winners (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)

The United States U-23 women's national soccer team is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer. Its primary role is the development of players in preparation for the full Women's National Team. The team's most recent major tournament was the 2008 Nordic Cup, in which the United States team won 3–0 over Germany. The team competes in a variety of competitions, including the annual Nordic Cup, which is the top competition for this age group. The current head coach is Steve Swanson.

History

Beginnings as a U-20 program

The United States U-23 team has been active since 1989, however it was run as a U-20 team from its inception until 1998.^[1] Its main goal was to prepare college players for the step up to international soccer. Women had no viable opportunities to enhance their playing abilities, aside from overseas, since the United States lacked a top-level domestic league during this time.

The switch to U-21

In 1998, United States Soccer Federation decided to make the team a U-21 team in order to give women a higher level of play to better prepare them for the full National Team. In accordance with this strategy, the U-21 team frequently rostered "over-aged" players in the U-21 training camps, as well as the Nordic Cup. It remained a U-21 team from 1998 through 2008.

Competing as a U-23 team

2008 saw the change of the USA's oldest youth national team moved to the U-23 level. The move was made by the United States Soccer Federation in response to age-level changes FIFA had made to its oldest women's youth competition, now named FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The age limit was raised from being a U-19 tournament to a U-20 tournament. This change, coupled with a newly introduced U-23 age limit to the Nordic Cup, prompted the USSF to rethink and eventually change the youth development team. The team continues to serve as a stepping-stone for collegiate and post-collegiate players to the United States Women's National Team.^[2] Additionally, many U-23 players develop further through the National Women's Soccer League. While many of the post-collegiate players play in this league to develop their game, the U-23's turned focus on college players who are out of season and may not yet be NWSL-eligible.

Players

Current squad

The following 22 players were called up for the 2017 Women’s U-23 Nordic Open Tournament running from June 6 – June 12.^[3]

Head coach: Laura Harvey

0#0	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Jane Campbell	(1995-02-17) February 17, 1995			Houston Dash
	1GK	Casey Murphy	(1996-04-25) April 25, 1996			Rutgers Scarlet Knights
	2DF	Christina Gibbons	(1994-12-30) December 30, 1994			FC Kansas City
	2DF	Zoey Goralski	(1995-01-22) January 22, 1995			UCLA Bruins
	2DF	Ellie Jean	(1997-01-31) January 31, 1997			Penn State Nittany Lions
	2DF	Hailie Mace				UCLA Bruins
	2DF	Tegan McGrady	(1997-10-11) October 11, 1997			Stanford Cardinal
	2DF	Kristen McNabb	(1994-04-17) April 17, 1994			Seattle Reign FC
	2DF	Kaleigh Riehl	(1996-10-21) October 21, 1996			Penn State Nittany Lions
	2DF	Erica Skroski	(1994-02-14) February 14, 1994			Sky Blue FC
	3MF	Jordan DiBiasi	(1996-10-28) October 28, 1996			Stanford Cardinal
	3MF	Jaelin Howell	(1999-11-21) November 21, 1999			Real Colorado
	3MF	Mayra Pelayo				Florida Gators
	3MF	Brianna Pinto	(2000-05-24) May 24, 2000			CASL Elite
	3MF	Margaret Purce	(1995-09-18) September 18, 1995			Boston Breakers
	3MF	Dani Weatherholt	(1994-03-17) March 17, 1994			Orlando Pride
	3MF	Michelle Xiao	(1997-05-04) May 4, 1997			Stanford Cardinal
	3MF	Sandra Yu	(1994-11-05) November 5, 1994			Notre Dame Fighting Irish
	4FW	Mallory Eubanks	(1996-06-04) June 4, 1996			Mississippi State Bulldogs
	4FW	Ashley Hatch	(1995-05-25) May 25, 1995			North Carolina Courage
	4FW	Savannah McCaskill	(1996-07-31) July 31, 1996			South Carolina Gamecocks
	4FW	Sophia Smith	(2000-08-10) August 10, 2000			Real Colorado

Recent call-ups

The following players were named to a squad in the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Cassie Miller	(1995-04-28) April 28, 1995			Florida State Seminoles	April 2017 Training Camp
GK	Arielle Schechtman	(1995-09-10) September 10, 1995			Georgetown Hoyas	April 2017 Training Camp
GK	Bella Geist				Oregon State Beavers	March 2017 Training Camp
GK	Madalyn Schiffel	(1994-09-19) September 19, 1994			Seattle Reign FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
GK	Laurel Ivory	(1999-08-28) August 28, 1999			West Florida Flames	January 2017 Training Camp
GK	Hannah Seabert	(1995-02-27) February 27, 1995			Pepperdine Waves	January 2017 Training Camp
GK	Diana Poulin	(1995-03-06) March 6, 1995			St. John's Red Storm	May 2016 Training Camp
GK	Andi Tostanoski	(1994-08-29) August 29, 1994			Seattle Reign FC	May 2016 Training Camp
DF	Megan Buckingham	(1996-03-10) March 10, 1996			North Carolina Tar Heels	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Kristen Cardano	(1994-08-04) August 4, 1994			Florida Gators	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Alana Cook	(1997-04-11) April 11, 1997			Stanford Cardinal	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Shannon Horgan	(1996-02-01) February 1, 1996			Clemson Tigers	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Taylor Isom	(1993-12-08) December 8, 1993			BYU Cougars	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Alexis Warner				Michigan State Spartans	March 2017 Training Camp
DF	Mandy Freeman	(1995-03-23) March 23, 1995			Sky Blue FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Adrienne Jordan	(1994-01-30) January 30, 1994			ÍBV	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Kayla Mills	(1995-11-08) November 8, 1995			Sky Blue FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Katie Naughton	(1994-02-15) February 15, 1994			Chicago Red Stars	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Samantha Witteman	(1994-02-26) February 26, 1994			North Carolina Courage	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Maddie Bauer	(1995-03-20) March 20, 1995			Seattle Reign FC	January 2017 Training Camp
DF	Tavia Leachman	(1998-07-28) July 28, 1998			Utah Utes	January 2017 Training Camp
DF	Sydney Miramontez	(1994-10-11) October 11, 1994			Nebraska Cornhuskers	January 2017 Training Camp
DF	Brittany Basinger	(1995-06-30) June 30, 1995			Penn State Nittany Lions	2016 Nordic Tournament
DF	Kirsten Crowley	(1994-09-24) September 24, 1994			Florida State Seminoles	2016 Nordic Tournament
DF	Claire Falknor	(1993-05-12) May 12, 1993			FC Bayern Munich	2016 Nordic Tournament
DF	Emily Byorth	(1995-03-22) March 22, 1995			Clemson Tigers	May 2016 Training Camp
DF	McKenzie Karas	(1994-10-09) October 9, 1994			Washington Huskies	May 2016 Training Camp
DF	Nini Rabsatt-Smith	(1994-05-23) May 23, 1994			South Alabama Jaguars	May 2016 Training Camp
DF	Erin Smith	(1995-07-21) July 21, 1995			Houston Dash	May 2016 Training Camp
MF	Sarina Bolden	(1996-06-30) June 30, 1996			Loyola Marymount Lions	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Rachel Corboz				Georgetown Hoyas	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Kristina Fisher	(1998-07-01) July 1, 1998			Miami Hurricanes	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Gabrielle Seiler	(1994-09-14) September 14, 1994			Florida Gators	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Chloe Williams	(1996-08-25) August 25, 1996			Eastern Washington Eagles	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Tierna Davidson	(1998-09-19) September 19, 1998			Stanford Cardinal	March 2017 Training Camp
MF	Taylor Racioppi	(1997-02-26) February 26, 1997			Duke Blue Devils	March 2017 Training Camp
MF	Morgan Andrews	(1995-03-25) March 25, 1995			Boston Breakers	2017 La Manga Tournament
MF	Tyler Lussi	(1995-01-26) January 26, 1995			Portland Thorns FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
MF	Emily Ogle	(1996-08-05) August 5, 1996			Penn State Nittany Lions	2017 La Manga Tournament
MF	Meggie Dougherty Howard	(1995-07-27) July 27, 1995			Washington Spirit	January 2017 Training Camp
MF	Ifeoma Onumonu	(1994-02-25) February 25, 1994			Boston Breakers	January 2017 Training Camp
MF	Toni Payne	(1995-04-22) April 22, 1995			FC Kansas City	January 2017 Training Camp
MF	Morgan Proffitt	(1994-08-22) August 22, 1994			Chicago Red Stars	January 2017 Training Camp
MF	Caroline Flynn	(1994-02-28) February 28, 1994			Portland Thorns FC	2016 Nordic Tournament
MF	McKenzie Meehan	(1994-12-25) December 25, 1994			Sky Blue FC	2016 Nordic Tournament
MF	Stephanie Ribeiro				FC Kansas City	2016 Nordic Tournament
MF	Andi Sullivan	(1995-12-20) December 20, 1995			Stanford Cardinal	2016 Nordic Tournament
MF	Rose Lavelle	(1995-05-14) May 14, 1995			Boston Breakers	May 2016 Training Camp
FW	Hannah Diaz	(1996-02-17) February 17, 1996			Saint Mary's Gaels	April 2017 Training Camp
FW	Sarah Luebbert	(1997-12-16) December 16, 1997			Missouri Tigers	April 2017 Training Camp
FW	Hailey Skolmoski	(1997-05-28) May 28, 1997			Utah Utes	April 2017 Training Camp
FW	Simone Charley	(1995-02-04) February 4, 1995			Vanderbilt Commodores	March 2017 Training Camp
FW	Tziarra King	(1998-08-24) August 24, 1998			NC State Wolfpack	March 2017 Training Camp
FW	Ashley Sanchez	(1999-03-16) March 16, 1999			So Cal Blues	March 2017 Training Camp
FW	Celeste Boureille	(1994-04-20) April 20, 1994			Portland Thorns FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
FW	Makenzy Doniak	(1994-02-25) February 25, 1994			North Carolina Courage	2017 La Manga Tournament
FW	Arielle Ship	(1995-05-02) May 2, 1995			Washington Spirit	2017 La Manga Tournament
FW	Danica Evans	(1995-06-02) June 2, 1995			Orlando Pride	January 2017 Training Camp
FW	Crystal Thomas	(1994-01-18) January 18, 1994			Georgetown Hoyas	January 2017 Training Camp
FW	Ashley Herndon	(1994-10-04) October 4, 1994			James Madison Dukes	2016 Nordic Tournament
FW	Rachel Hill	(1995-04-17) April 17, 1995			Orlando Pride	2016 Nordic Tournament
FW	Savannah Jordan	(1995-01-24) January 24, 1995			Portland Thorns FC	2016 Nordic Tournament
FW	Jackie Stengel	(1994-12-22) December 22, 1994			NC State Wolfpack	May 2016 Training Camp

Coaches

• Jerry Smith (2001–2002)
• Chris Petrucelli (2003–2004)
• Jill Ellis (2005–2006)
• Bill Irwin (2007–2011)
• Randy Waldrum (2012–2013)
• Steve Swanson (2013–present)

References