SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes Girls’ Academy midfielder Sophie Jones has been called up to the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team training camp as they make their first international trip of the year to Mar del Plata, Argentina from Feb. 7-19. While in Argentina, the U-17s will play matches as part of the Copa Provincia de Buenos Aires tournament.
The USA will face Chile (Feb. 13), 2017 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup host Uruguay (Feb. 15) and Argentina (Feb. 17) as the young Americans continue preparations for the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship in April. All the games will be played at Estadio JosĂ© MarĂa Minella in Mar del Plata.
The three South American teams are some of the strongest on the continent for women’s soccer outside of Brazil, and are preparing for their World Cup qualifying tournament. All three will participate in the 2018 South American Under-17 Women's Football Championship being held in March in Argentina. As host, Uruguay has an automatic berth, meaning only the top two finishers at that tournament will earn berths to the World Cup.
“What a great trip this will be for our players,” said U.S. head coach Mike Carr. “The opportunity to travel to South America, experience the overall environment there and play three talented teams has so many positives for this team’s continued development. This will no doubt be some of the best preparation for qualifying that we could get.”
Jones has received several call-ups from the U-17 U.S. Women’s National Team in the past year, most recently joining the January training camp in Bradenton, Fla., from Jan. 10-19. During the camp, the U.S. U-17s played two matches against the Venezuela National Team, earning 8-0 and 4-0 victories. Jones provided an assist in the 8-0 win on Jan. 15, and entered the match as a substitute 71st minute in the 4-0 win on Jan. 18.
Jones also joined the U-17s for the camp in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., from Dec. 11-16, featuring two matches against the Haiti U-17 WNT. The Quakes midfielder started and played the full 90 minutes in the 5-0 win on Dec. 13, and did not feature in the second match Dec. 15 in which the U.S. won 1-0.
The USA will participate in the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship held in Nicaragua from April 19-29. The Americans, seeded atop Group B as reigning regional champs, will face Costa Rica, Bermuda and Canada in the tournament that will qualify three teams to the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Carr’s roster consists of 18 players born in 2001 – the age cut off year for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – and four born in 2002.
U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Angelina Anderson (Mustang SC; Danville, Calif.), Julia Dohle (New York City FC; Scarsdale, N.Y.), Cayla White (McLean; Arlington, Va.)
DEFENDERS (6): Tori Hansen (NC Courage Academy; Raleigh, N.C.), Smith Hunter (Seattle Reign Academy; Seattle, Wash.), Makenna Morris (Bethesda SC; Germantown, Md.), Natalia Staude (NTH Tophat; Atlanta, Ga.), Kennedy Wesley (So Cal Blues; Rossmoor, Calif.), Kate Wiesner (LAFC Slammers; Monrovia, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Croix Bethune (Concord Fire SC; Alpharetta, Ga.), Talia DellaPeruta (NTH Tophat; Cumming, Ga.), Maya Doms (Davis Legacy; Davis, Calif.), Mia Fishel (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Sophia Jones (San Jose Earthquakes; Menlo Park, Calif.), Samantha Kroeger (World Class FC; West Milford, N.J.), Astrid Wheeler (Concord Fire SC; Atlanta, Ga.)
FORWARDS (6): Jordan Canniff (Washington Spirit - Baltimore Armour; California, Md.), Isabella D'Aquila (So Cal Blues; Mission Viejo, Calif), Sunshine Fontes (Hawaii Rush; Wahiawa, Hawaii), Payton Linnehan (FC Stars of Mass; Douglas, Mass.), Samantha Meza (Solar SC; Dallas, Texas), Diana Ordonez (FC Dallas; Prosper, Texas)
