U20/U18 camp brings diverse group

The U18/U20 US Women’s Soccer National camp will commence today in Chula Vista, California, and represent different things to different players.

For forward Tani Costa, of Leahi Soccer Club, it’s the chance for a new beginning. Costa, who will be attending Penn State next year, was named to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in the fall only to have to pull out because of a stress fracture in her ankle. It was a cruel and untimely blow to one of the top rated players in the country but today she’ll start anew.

Costa will be joined by an eclectic mix of talent. Scorpion’s Kristen Mewis will be present fresh off receiving the Girls Youth Player of the Year award at the NSCAA Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. Like the other U18 players, Mewis will get a chance to mix it up with older competition, which she’ll do this fall while attending Boston College.

Vicki DiMartino, the younger sister of UCLA star and recent Women’s Professional Soccer draft pick Christina DiMartino, is one of the players who will arrive with previous national team experience. She was a part of the group that made a run to the finals in New Zealand back in November, and her efforts earned her the Silver Boot Award. She was the second leading scorer on the team with five goals and became the first player in US Soccer history to score all five goals in five consecutive games.

Other players from that U17 team who will be present in Chula Vista include, Amber Brooks (Arsenal World Class), Crystal Dunn (Albertson Fury), Olivia Klei (Pleasanton Rage), Rachel Quon (Eclipse Select), Erika Tymrak (IMG Soccer Academy) and Cloee Colohan (Black Diamond SC).

Colohan, a savvy defender from West Point, Utah, will be attending Portland next year. Despite her national experience and extensive background in playing for elite teams, she doesn’t take these opportunities for granted, and returned from New Zealand in November with a smile, and gifts for her coaches at Black Diamond.

Goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni, of Boston College, will be one of the elder statesman on the team. She was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com freshman team after a stellar collegiate season.

Midfielder Zakiya Bywaters, of Las Vegas, was an NSCAA/adidas Girls Youth All-America Team member in 2007.

It’s a diverse collection of stars, and it should be interesting to see it play out over the next week

Click HERE for a recent interview with Crystal Dunn (Albertson Fury)