The USA U20 women will be in action this summer and that's the good news; the even better news is that they will be playing much more appropriate competition than they did last year.
Playing against two top Canadian college teams in 2022 was good education, but resulted in some lopsided losses and not a lot of chances to work with the ball in game situations. This time around, the Junior Eagles are back in Canada but playing Canada and Wales.
“Our roster has a great blend of pathway experience, with players coming from 17 different clubs," said USA Women’s U20s Head Coach Joel Bonnaud. "As a result, I’m looking forward to seeing how they will utilize our structure on and off the field to come together, leverage our camp theme to take ownership, and eventually grow as decision makers. Competing against age-grade peers from other countries is critical to our players' development. It allows them to discover new styles of play, gauge where they stand on the international scene, assess the work to be done on their pathway so they can be successful when they reach the senior squad.”
The USA team is made up mostly of college players, but three high-schoolers, twins Olivia and Reese Woods out of Eagle HS in Idaho, and Falbrook (Calif.) star AJ Haughey, are also on the roster. Harvard freshman sensations Tiahna Padilla and Lennox London, products of Fallbrook and Charlotte, respectively, headline a talented group that also includes Davenport scrumhalf sensation Ashley Cowdrey (Sparta Rock).
