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April 5, 2008

MILWAUKEE - Marquette freshman goalkeeper Natalie Kulla has been selected to attend the United States National Team Under 20 training camp April 5-12. Kulla is one of 34 players called to the camp which will be held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

"Congratulations to Natalie! This is a wonderful opportunity for her and we know she will represent herself, Marquette and our program very well, said head coach Markus Roeders. "Although she has only played in a few games since she arrived last fall, we have seen tremendous improvement in her as a player. Prior to Marquette, she attended National ODP Showcase events so she won't be intimidated by the environment of competing with the top players at the national level at this age group. Considering the U20 National Team is preparing for World Cup qualifying this summer and the World Cup later this year, Natalie has an opportunity of a lifetime. All of us wish her well and she has all the tools to shine."

Head coach Tony DiCicco will hold the seven-day training camp as the team continues preparation for CONCACAF Qualifying for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The camp will be used to evaluate many new players before narrowing the player pool in preparation for qualifying.

The players at the camp will be split into two squads a pair of matches on April 8 and April 12. On April 8, the USA will play Pali Blues at 11 a.m., followed by a match against Loyola Marymount at 1 p.m. On April 12, the teams will play Long Beach State and UCLA at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

U-20 CONCACAF qualification will likely occur in June as dates and locations have yet to be confirmed.

U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team Roster Training Camp Roster
April 5-12, 2008 - The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.

Goalkeepers (4): Kristin Arnold (Texas A & M), Amanda Barasha (Wake Forest), Chantel Jones (Virginia), Natalie Kulla (Marquette);

Defenders: (10): Ashley Bowyer (Ohio State), Kaley Fountain (Wake Forest), Liz Harkin (ASU), Meghan Klingenberg (UNC), Kelly Lynch (Virginia Tech), Brittney Macdonald (Miami), Blakely Mattern (South Carolina), Nikki Moore (Central Florida), Ella Stephan (Florida State), Lauren Wilmoth (UCLA);

Midfielders (10): Gina Demaio (Rutgers), Gina DiMartino (Boston College), Tanya Emerson (Tennessee), Melissa Hayes (Penn State), Christine Nairn (South Central Freedom), Lizzy Nichols (Harvard), Katie Sheeleigh (Harvard), Rachel Shipley (Texas A & M), Katie Vogel (Clemson), Kylie Wright (UCLA);

Forwards (10): Kiersten Dallstream (Washington State), Kristina Larsen (UCLA), Sydney Leroux (Sereno FC), Alyssa Mautz (Texas A & M), Tiffany McCarty (Freestate Shooters), Jessica Mcdonald (Phoenix College), Alex Morgan (California), Casey Nogueira (UNC), Brittney Steinbruch (Miami), Nikki Washington (UNC).