Sixteen-year-old Sophia Smith (Real Colorado/Windsor, Colorado) was called into the U.S. Women’s National Team camp this week. Smith, a forward, joins Jaelin Howell (Real Colorado/Windsor, Colorado) as the other youth club soccer player on the roster. The duo from the same club team become the third and fourth players from the 2016 U17 World Cup squad to be called into training camp with the senior team. Brianna Pinto (CASL) and Ashley Sanchez (So Cal Blues) were previously part of training camps with the first team. 

Smith has been the star of the women’s youth program in 2017. She scored nine goals in six games last month while playing with two different youth national teams in Europe. She continued that hot streak on Wednesday with the game-winning goal for the U.S. U23 Women’s National Team against the Portland Thorns. Her run of form earned a call-up from Jill Ellis for a training camp with the first team in preparation of two friendlies against Russia on April 6 and April 9. 

The U.S. Women’s National Team is shorthanded for those games with Morgan Brian, Lindsay Horan, and Tobin Heath all withdrawing due to injury. Howell was called into camp on Wednesday as the replacement for Horan. Howell, 17 years old, played 62 minutes in the win over the Thorns for the USA U23 squad. She is a defensive midfielder, who was one of the most consistent players with the U17s during 2016. 

Howell and Smith join Mallory Pugh as the three teenagers on this camp roster. Pugh, a regular with the U.S. Women’s National Team, also played for Real Colorado during her youth career. The Real Colorado trio looks to lead the youth movement for the U.S. National Team. 

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