U23 Camp

Kelsey Davis and Jessica Tsao have been invited to the upcoming U23 National Team camp, to lead up to the Nordic Cup in 2009. Kelsey is a repeat. Way to go Jessica!

Here's the link: http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_12189697.html

Happy New Year!

I'll second the "way to go, Jessica".

When is the Nordic Cup? Do we lose her for part of the season? Which part?

Fret not FFA, the Nordic Cup takes place in July, they won't miss any time!!

fan from afar wrote:I'll second the "way to go, Jessica".

When is the Nordic Cup? Do we lose her for part of the season? Which part?

Relax. It's all good. The Nordic cup is in July Congrats to them both. Interesting that jessica is being bumped over a lot of good older players.

Kelsey has been in the mix for the national teams for a number of years. This is a huge bump for Jessica. I am encouraged that the coaches are looking outside usual suspects for talent. Cheers to the hometown girl and good luck for Kelsey.

Yes, the Nordie is in July so everyone should be available for the spring schedule and regular season. Only thing to watch is if there are any other camps between the end of January and summer. I am guessing there will be at least one more and, maybe a couple of scrimages.

Being a fan from afar and not able to see many games, I was nevertheless impressed by the improvement for Jessica from last to this season. I remember her playing outside D last season ('07) paired on the right with Ellie at outside M, and they were a pretty effective team against the weaker teams but just OK at best against better teams. This year, I really don't think I saw a better outside defender all fall, except maybe the girl (forgot her name) from UNC on the U20 national team - left outside defender. I don't remember Jessica being beaten all year, and she was a super threat overlapping up into the attacking third of the field, and - she'll improve again going into her Jr season, ESPECIALLY if she gets time with the U23 team.

Incidently - I think you will see that same type of huge improvement from Charney next fall. All the freshmen will improve a lot (they always do), and I'm not sure why, but I look for even more improvement from her than from the other freshmen.

Great news indeed for Jessica! Congratulations to her!

Although there are 25 in camp, there are only 6 listed as defenders, so maybe she'll have a good chance of making the squad.

SN, You bring up a good point about the defenders. Are these six defenders on the bubble to make the team? Conspicuously absent are Carrie-Dew Notre Dame and Marissa Abegg-Stanford (Lake Oswego). Its hard to imagine they are not in the hunt for making the team in July. Other former defense team member include Erin Hardy-UCLA, Nikki Krysik-Virginia. I think at least one of these names will make the team.

FFA, agree about the improvement in Freshmen after the first year. The difference in maturity and being immersed in the program is definately bigger than say from Soph to Junior or Junion to Senior. With Charney, I thought she was a little unlucky this year with shots going wide or over the cross bar. I expect to see more goals from her next year.

Auto Pilot wrote:SN, You bring up a good point about the defenders. Are these six defenders on the bubble to make the team? Conspicuously absent are Carrie-Dew Notre Dame and Marissa Abegg-Stanford (Lake Oswego). Its hard to imagine they are not in the hunt for making the team in July.

Abegg is named as a defender. I also imagine some of the others you mentioned will get a shot in future camps if some of the ones named tho time don't perform.

Nice to see Moore was also named.

I hope Kelsey gets to play in the event this time. Seems like she is always the backup. If Jess makes the team and starts it would be a good combo as they play well together. But I guess the coach (Bill) is duty bound to play who he thinks is best.

Bravo Jessica! Well deserved. She's a solid defender. I'm sure she and Kelsey will make the most of their opportunity and imprint their undeniable skills on the coaches minds. Go get em Pilots!

I would imagine many of the players will be drafted and in season during the Nordic Cup in July. The talented defenders you mentioned as missing would probably be unavailable for Nordic Cup training camp and games.

WPSinMind wrote:I would imagine many of the players will be drafted and in season during the Nordic Cup in July. The talented defenders you mentioned as missing would probably be unavailable for Nordic Cup training camp and games.

Hmm, that is food for thought. There are a number of players on the camp list that either have been drafted into the WPS league or are are finished with their college and are available for draft. If they won't be available for the event why would Bill have called them into camp. Agreements have been made with the Pros and U-23s most likely.

how many of us have forgotten jess was the player of the year in her classification her sophamore an junior years in high school. an the only reason she didn't win it her senior season was because she tore her acl that year about a week after megan r. torn hers. jess has been an offensive player her whole life! when she came to the pilots, she had to learn to play defense. how many times did clive take an offensive talent an turn them in to a defender?

I'd be quaking in my ski boots if I was Nordic Cup team going agains the US defense of Abegg, Logterman, Moore and Tsao, to name the backline players I've seen. Tsao is the biggest two-way threat of them all, IMHO, if the coach unleashes her to make runs on the attack. She's the pride of the Oregon Episcopal Aardvarks. Bravo!