CHICAGO (May 26, 2008) - The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team will hold a training camp in Jersey City, N.J. from June 6-13 as the team continues preparation for CONCACAF qualifying for the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the first-ever world championship for this age group.

The CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship will be played from July 17-26 in Trinidad & Tobago with the top three teams advancing to the World Cup in New Zealand, to be held from Oct. 28-Nov. 16, 2008. The USA will play Costa Rica (July 17), El Salvador (July 19) and host T&T (July 21) in group play. The top two teams in each of the two groups advance to the semifinals, with the semifinal winners earning berths to the U-17 World Cup. The winner of the third-place match will earn CONCACAF’s third ticket to New Zealand.

The USA will play its group games at Marvin Lee Stadium in Tunapuna. The semifinals and finals will also be played at Marvin Lee Stadium.

U.S. head coach Kazbek Tambi has called in 26 players for the camp at Jersey City University. He will eventually select 21 for the qualifying tournament. During the week-long camp, the team will play three matches, including a game against the Jersey Sky Blue of the USL W-League. The U.S. roster is mostly made up of players born in 1991 and 1992, but Tambi has called in three 1993s in defenders Abby Dahlkemper and Morgan Brian and midfielder Sydney Payne.

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team
Training Camp Roster
June 6-13, 2008 -- Jersey City, N.J.

GOALKEEPERS (5): Alexa Gaul (Naperville, Ill.), Sarah Keane (Mt. Laurel, N.J.), Lianne Maldonado (Clifton, N.J.), Jennifer Pettigrew (Kearney, N.J.), Taylor Vancil (South Elgin, Ill.);.

DEFENDERS (8): Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.), Amber Brooks (New Hope, Pa.), Cloee Colohan (West Point, Utah), Abby Dahlkemper (Menlo Park, Calif.), Crystal Dunn (Rockville Center, N.Y.), Alexis Harris (Plano, Texas), Julia Roberts (Fredrick, Md.), Anne Steinlage (Grand Haven, Mich.);

MIDFIELDERS (8): Kathryn Bennett (Clyde Hill, Wash.), Zakiya Bywaters (Las Vegas, Nev.), Madlyn Evens (Glenside, Pa.), Olivia Klei (Pleasanton, Calif.), Kristen Mewis (Hanson, Mass.), Samantha Mewis (Hanson, Mass.), Sydney Payne (Lutz, Fla.), Erika Tymrak (Bradenton, Fla.);

FORWARDS (5): Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii), Victoria DiMartino (Massapequa, N.Y.), Samantha Johnson (Palmdale, Calif.), Rachel Nuzzolese (Upper Brookville, N.Y.), Courtney Verloo (Tualatin, Ore.).