Internationals SC alumna and Strongsville, Ohio native Emily Ogle is among the 21 players who will represent the United States at the 2016 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, being held in Papua New Guinea from November 13 – December 3.
“I’m very honored to be named to the roster for the upcoming U-20 World Cup in Papua New Guinea,” Ogle commented. “I’m excited for the opportunity to wear the U.S. Soccer crest and represent my country this November, but also to represent Ohio and all the young players across the state who dream of one day playing in a World Cup. We know we are carrying a big responsibility on our shoulders and we’re excited for the challenges the tournament will bring.”
The U.S. opens the tournament on Monday, Nov. 14 against France, faces New Zealand on Thursday, Nov. 17 and finishes the group against Ghana on Monday, Nov. 21. The USA will play its first two group games at PNG Football Stadium and its third group game at Sir John Guise Stadium. Both stadiums are located in Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea. All the matches will be broadcast on the FOX family of networks.
“We are thrilled for Emily’s section to the final roster for the U-20 Women’s World Cup,” Internationals SC Director of Coaching Keri Sarver added. “It was clear at an early age that Emily had something special – not only her incredible talent, but her discipline, work ethic and perseverance toward long-term goals. Even through setbacks, she never wavered or made excuses. She trained extra, focused on improving her weaknesses, and became a student of the game. Emily is an amazing representative of the Internationals Soccer Club on and off the field. She is one of the most humble and respectful players that I have ever coached and she is an amazing role model for our young players in the club. We wish Emily and the entire U-20 team all the best as they compete on the world’s biggest stage.”
The 16-team field for the tournament is a strong one, featuring Canada, Mexico, the USA, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela, France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden.
“Throughout this cycle, we have gone through an extensive process evaluating a number of players in various environments,” U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team head coach Michelle French added. “The final World Cup roster is comprised of players that provide great depth and versatility in every position. The way in which players competed to be a part of the roster, their commitment to be a part of this cycle, and their overall dedication to each other, has been tremendous. This group of players is highly motivated which has proven to be the impetus for their individual and collective development, particularly over the last six months.”
French officially named her squad after the completion of the most recent training camp in in Florida at which the USA defeated the Venezuela U-20 Women’s National Team twice, by 6-2 and 5-1 scores.
Ogle, a sophomore at Penn State, leads a group of skillful and hard-working midfielders. She is among five players on the roster who helped Penn State win the NCAA Championship in 2015. Ogle is also the only player from Ohio to make the roster for this global event.
“The experience and knowledge this group of players will gain through their participation in the U-20 World Cup is extremely valuable,” French concluded. “Players have two opportunities at the youth level to try to qualify and compete in a World Cup, so being a part of this roster is massive. The more exposure our Youth National Team players can get to major world events, the heightened physical and emotional demands, and top international competition, the more the players will be prepared moving forward in their respective National Team careers.”
U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Team Roster by Position:
Goalkeepers (3): Rose Chandler (Penn State; Atlanta, Ga.), Brooke Heinsohn (New England FC; Norfolk, Mass.), Casey Murphy (Rutgers; Bridgewater, N.J.)
Defenders (7): Madeline Elliston (Penn State; Omaha, Neb.), Emily Fox (FC Virginia; Ashburn, Va.), Sabrina Flores (Notre Dame; Livingston, N.J.), Ellie Jean (Penn State; Coventry, Conn.), Natalie Jacobs (Notre Dame; Coto de Caza, Calif.), Taylor Otto (North Carolina; Apex, N.C.), Kaleigh Riehl (Penn State; Fairfax Station, Va.)
Midfielders (7): Marley Canales (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Katie Cousins (Tennessee; Forest, Va.), Savannah DeMelo (Beach FC; Bellflower, Calif.), Kelcie Hedge (Washington; Post Falls, Idaho), Emily Ogle (Penn State; Strongsville, Ohio), Courtney Petersen (Virginia; Canton, Mich.), Parker Roberts (Florida; Leawood, Kansas)
Forwards (4): Ashley Sanchez (So Cal Blues: Monrovia, Calif.), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Jessie Scarpa (North Carolina; Lakeland, Fla.), Ally Watt (Texas A&M; Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Slideshow Photo Courtesy of Penn State Athletics
