July 31, 2002

CHICAGO, ILL. - U.S. Under-19 Women's National Team head coach Tracey Leone, UNC '90, has named the 18 players who will represent the United States at the 2002 FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship taking place in Canada from Aug. 17-Sept. 1, 2002. The selections include four players who will begin their freshman years at the University of North Carolina this fall--Amy Steadman, Lori Chalupny, Kendall Fletcher and Lindsey Tarpley.

Leone watched 57 players in game competition over the past two years and has pared that number down to the 18 players who will make history by participating in the first-ever FIFA World Championship for youth women. Leone chose 15 of the 18 players who helped the USA earn a berth in Canada at the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament in Tobago in early May, adding defenders Keeley Dowling and Amy Steadman, both of whom missed the qualifying tournament with injuries, and forward Angie Wozuk, who made a late run to earn her roster spot.

"It was a very difficult roster to pick as we had more than 18 players who we knew could help us succeed in Canada," said Leone. "We are extremely confident in the players that we selected and very excited to move forward as a team to this goal we've been working towards for two years."

The U.S. Under-19s finished up a two-week training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in San Diego, Calif., with wins over Mexico's U-19s on July 24 and 26 by 3-1 and 2-1 scores respectively. In the match on July 26, the U.S. got a goal and an assist from Megan Kakadelas on her 19th birthday and a goal from Kelly Wilson, assisted by team captain Lindsay Tarpley, who will head into the World Championship as the USA's most capped player on the U-19 level with 20 full international matches. Defender Jessica Ballweg has 19 U-19 caps.

The U.S. team will now have a short break before regrouping in Portland, Ore. for training from Aug. 9-11 at the NIKE World Headquarters before heading up to Victoria, B.C., to begin final preparations for the World Championship. The USA's first match is also the first match of the tournament, taking on England on Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. PT at Centennial Stadium in Victoria, B.C.

The U.S. team will no doubt be one of the most exciting attacking sides in Canada, bringing a dynamic offense that has produced 70 goals in 12 international matches this year. The USA will be led by the new "Triple-Edged Sword" in Tarpley, Wilson and Heather O'Reilly, a trio of forwards who have combined for 54 goals in their U-19 international careers.

"All the groups are extremely challenging and we know we will be in for three wars in the first round to qualify for the quarterfinals," said Leone. "We are looking forward to that challenge and to the excitement of participating in such an historic event."

The 18-player roster features six players who will be sophomores for their colleges next fall, eight incoming college freshmen, three players who will be high school seniors (defender Rachel Buehler and forwards Angie Woznuk and Heather O'Reilly) and one player who will be a high school junior (goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who is the youngest player on the team and won't turn 17 until October). The rising college freshmen and sophomores will miss their pre-seasons and then jump right into their collegiate seasons after the World Championship.

In preparation for the World Championship, the U.S. U-19s played 37 official matches over the past two years, including 17 full internationals, and countless other scrimmages. The USA went 15-1-1 in those international matches, outscoring their opponents 93-18.

"We can't wait to get to Canada and actually live what we've been talking about for so long," added Leone. "The players are jumping out of their skins to get going and we owe an enormous appreciation to U.S. Soccer for giving us the support and resources to prepare for a World Championship."

2002 FIFA U-19 WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UNITED STATES U-19 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER

Player Pos. Ht. Birthdate Hometown Club/School U-19 Caps/Goals

Ballweg, Jessica D 5-5 04/11/83 Metuchen, N.J. PDA Dynamo/Santa Clara** 19/0

Buehler, Rachel D 5-5 08/26/85 Del Mar, Calif. San Diego Surf/Torrey Pines HS 7/0

Chalupny, Lori M 5-4 01/29/84 St. Louis, Mo. JB Marine/UNC* 16/2

Dowling, Keeley D 5-8 02/17/83 Carmel, Ind. Carmel Cosmos/Tennessee** 10/4

Fletcher, Kendall D 5-5 11/06/84 Cary, N.C. Greensboro Twisters/UNC* 11/0

Harris, Ashlyn G 5-8 10/19/85 Satellite Beach, Fla. Seminole Ice/Satellite HS 13

Huffman, Sarah M 5-2 03/05/84 Flower Mound, Tex. D'Feeters/Virginia* 6/0

Kakadelas, Megan F 5-9 07/26/83 Carlsbad, Calif. San Diego Surf/Santa Clara** 16/8

Makoski, Manya M 5-3 04/18/84 Trumbull, Conn. Yankee United/Arizona State* 10/1

Rivera, Megan G 5-8 02/07/83 Miami, Fla. Miami Premier/Auburn** 3

Oakes, Jill M 5-6 07/18/84 West Hills, Calif. SA Strikers/UCLA* 14/4

O'Reilly, Heather F 5-4 01/02/85 East Brunswick, N.J. PDA Splash/E. Brunswick HS 13/14

Osborne, Leslie M 5-8 05/27/83 Menominee Falls, Wis. Milwaukee FC/Santa Clara** 15/2

Schefter, Annie M 5-8 01/10/84 Yakima, Wash. Strikers/Notre Dame* 12/2

Steadman, Amy D 5-2 09/08/84 Brevard, N.C. Greensboro Twisters/UNC* 10/0

Tarpley, Lindsay F 5-6 09/22/83 Kalamazoo, Mich. Michigan Hawks/UNC* 20/18

Wilson, Kelly F 5-6 02/11/83 Odessa, Texas Force United/Texas** 14/22

Woznuk, Angela F 5-4 03/29/85 El Cajon, Calif. San Diego Surf/University HS 2/1

** = Rising Sophomore; * = Rising Freshman

Following are the players who will represent the U.S. Under-19 Women 's National Team at the first-ever FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship.

Jessica Ballweg, Defender - Metuchen, N.J.: The second most capped player on the roster, Ballweg played a key role in Santa Clara University's 2001 NCAA Championship Team and is one of two New Jersey products on the squad.

Rachel Buehler, Defender - Del Mar, Calif.: One of three rising high school seniors on the team, she made a strong run late in the selection process to earn a roster spot for the qualifying team and consistently kept improving to earn her place in Canada. She is one of three San Diego products on the squad.

Lori Chalupny, Midfielder - St. Louis, Mo.: One of the most skillful young players in the country, she has represented the USA at the U-21 and full National Team levels and played in more U-19 matches this year than any other U.S. player. She is headed to the University of North Carolina after the World Championship.

Keeley Dowling, Defender - Carmel, Ind.: Tall, strong and an incredible leaper, Dowling missed the CONCACAF qualifying tournament with an ankle injury, but her leadership and maturity are key in the back for the USA. She will play her sophomore season at Tennessee after the World Championship.

Kendal Fletcher, Defender - Cary, N.C.: One of the most improved players over the past year, the former gymnast is one of the most physical players on the team. She is headed to the University of North Carolina after the World Championship and is one of two North Carolina products on the roster.

Ashlyn Harris, Goalkeeper - Satellite Beach, Fla.: The rising high school junior is the youngest player on the team, but is tremendously acrobatic and is excellent with her feet. Both goalkeepers on the team are Florida products.

Sarah Huffman, Midfielder - Flower Mound, Texas: A steady midfielder, she is physically strong and has an excellent work rate. She is headed to University of Virginia after the World Championship.

Megan Kakadelas, Forward - Carlsbad, Calif.: A fantastically entertaining dribbler, she is whippet quick and a non-stop runner. She was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2001 for USC but has transferred to Santa Clara, where she will play her sophomore season after the World Championship. She is one of three San Diego products on the roster.

Manya Makoski, Midfielder - Trumbull, Conn.: After overcoming some nagging injuries, she will be healthy and ready for Canada. Speedy and a slick dribbler she is headed to Arizona State after the World Championship.

Jill Oakes, Midfielder - West Hills, Calif.: A dominating player in the midfield or in the back, the Gatorade High School Player of the Year from Harvard-Westlake is headed to UCLA after the World Championship. She trained with the full Women's National Team in Minnesota in preparation for the match against Norway on July 21.

Heather O'Reilly, Forward - East Brunswick, N.J.: With a tireless will to run and an insatiable hunger for the goal, O'Reilly forms part of the new "Triple-Edged Sword." The rising high school senior with world-class speed earned her first three caps for the full U.S. Women's National Team at the Algarve Cup in March. She is one of two New Jersey products on the roster.

Leslie Osborne, Midfielder - Menominee Falls, Wis.: As a freshman, she played a major role for the Santa Clara Broncos in their run to the NCAA title last season, scoring 13 goals with 17 assists. She can play on all three lines for the USA.

Megan Rivera, Goalkeeper - Miami, Fla.: A feisty 'keeper with the ability to make a big save, she will be a sophomore at Auburn in the fall and forms the other half of the USA's Florida goalkeeping duo.

Annie Schefter, Midfielder - Yakima, Wash.: A versatile midfielder with tremendous playmaking ability, good heading and scoring bite, Schefter emerged in 2002 as a valuable player for the U-19s. She is headed to Notre Dame after the World Championship.

Amy Steadman, Defender - Brevard, N.C.: Came back strong from ACL surgery to make the team after not being quite ready for CONCACAF Qualifying. The nifty flank player can play in the back or in the midfield. She left high school early to enroll at UNC and will play her freshman season after the World Championship. She is one of two North Carolina products on the roster.

Lindsay Tarpley, Forward - Kalamazoo, Mich.: An extremely sharp blade on the new "Triple-Edged Sword," Tarpley will captain the team. She has scored 18 goals in 20 U-19 internationals.

Kelly Wilson, Forward - Odessa, Texas: Strong and fast, the third edge of the new "Triple-Edged Sword" can run at a defense from both flanks and up the middle. She scored against England at the Algarve Cup in her first-ever appearance for the full U.S. Women's National Team. The Big-12 Rookie of the Year for Texas, she was named NSCAA Second-Team All-American, and has 22 goals in 14 U-19 full international matches.

Angie Woznuk, Forward - El Cajon, Calif.: Extremely skillful and possessing more attacking bite than one would expect from a player her size, she played extremely well in the last few U-19 events to earn her spot as one of the five forwards. She is the third San Diego product on the roster.