Five Key Players for the USA U15 WYNT

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The U.S. U15 Women’s Youth National Team kicks off the the Concacaf Girls U-15 Championship on Monday from Florida. USA head coach Katie Schoepfer announced the 18-player roster for the event last week. The squad plus four alternates trained in Florida from July 20-30 to prepare for the event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the second international event for this age group this season. The U15 team (2007 birth year) went to Europe earlier in 2022 and claimed wins over the Netherlands and Germany. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>USA opens up the regional competition against Puerto Rico on Monday, and then faces Jamaica and Canada in Group B play from League A. There are 32 teams competing for the Concacaf Championship this time with eight teams in each League. There will be a champion crowned in each League. The matches will be streamed with details to come from the organizing committee. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>USA is the defending champion of the event from the 2016 and 2018 editions. Current USA U20 Women’s National Team players [player_tooltip player_id=’26810’ first=’Jaedyn’ last=’Shaw’], Olivia Moultrie, and [player_tooltip player_id=’19052’ first=’Alyssa’ last=’Thompson’] were part of the 2018 team. The event was not held in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year’s group looks especially strong after the previous success in Europe and a number of these players taking on important roles with their club teams during the club postseason in recent months. Here are five players to watch from the USA team who could be the top player from their respective graduating class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62e0236fe6f01","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["33355"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Vapensky is the top goalkeeper from the class of 2025. She has solidified her spot on this team, but expect the coaches to rotate keepers throughout the tournament as Kennedy Zorn is excellent as well.rnrnVapensky is a dedicate player to the craft. She continues to improve with each season and adds more to her game. She is among the best at the youth level in covering her the full frame of the goal. She has pulled out more than a few highlight-reel saves during the last month. USA likely won’t need those types of heroics during this tournament, but they can have confidence that both Zorn and Vapensky can clean up any error.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["50061"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Coughlin and club teammate Daya King are two of the top defenders from the class of 2025. Coughlin is a center back who is excellent on the ball and strong defensively. Coughlin is an impressive passer and has superb ball-striking technique. She can spead the field with the accuracy of her long passes. King is a shutdown outside back who likes to get forward and join in the attack. They will be two to watch among this deep pool of prospects for defense on this team.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["26916"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Fuller is the next star from Texas. She plays up an age group for her club team, as she plays on the Solar SC 06 squad. She had a dominant season in high school as a freshman and earned the Gatorade State Player of the Year for Texas.rnrnShe is a favorite of many scouts and coaches because of her intensity and work-rate. For a player with many accolades already, she approaches every game with humility - plus she just loves to play. She should have a starring role on this team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["33314"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The Albion SC standout is one of four players from California on the roster. She is probably the best passer in this class. Her actions on the field suggest she is always a step ahead of her opponent. She has excellent ball control and does well playing out of tight spaces. She should thrive on this team with the talent in the attack on this roster. She also plays up an age group as she plays for her club’s 06 team.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["23361"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id=’23361’ first=’Alexandra’ last=’Pfeiffer’] is one of the top players from the class of 2026. She is listed as a forward on this roster, but as a midfielder on her recruiting profile. She is probably going to pencil in as a winger with this group, but she has the skill to be an attacking midfielder as well. With a small roster, that type of versatility is key for a successful run to the final.rnrnPfeiffer is one of my favorite players in the ECNL because of her drive. She will score a goal and then immediately want to score another goal. She is a determined player with a lot of skill. She is good with both feet. She likes to attempt long-range shots when the defenders drop off against her, which she will face a lot of in this event. But when she is crowded, she has a quick burst and can get past a mark with ease to get to the end line for a cross or shot. Pfeiffer will be a top player to watch among the attackers in this group.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>                </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3><strong>2022 CONCACAF GIRLS’ UNDER-15 CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GOALKEEPERS (2):</strong>&nbsp;Molly Vapensky (Chicago FC United; Evanston, Ill.), Kennedy Zorn (SC del Sol; Peoria, Ariz.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENDERS (6):&nbsp;</strong>Mya Brandon (Michigan Hawks; Canton, Mich), Maddie Costello (SUSA; Stony Brook, N.Y.), [player_tooltip player_id=’50061’ first=’Alexis’ last=’Coughlin’] (Legends FC, Corona, Calif.), [player_tooltip player_id=’26834’ first=’Jordyn’ last=’Hardeman’] (Solar SC, Prosper, Texas), Daya King (Legends FC; Moreno Valley, Calif.), Kai Price (Concorde Fire; Atlanta, Ga.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MIDFIELDERS (5):&nbsp;</strong>Kimmi Ascanio (Florida United; Doral, Fla.), [player_tooltip player_id=’26916’ first=’Kennedy’ last=’Fuller’] (Solar SC; Southlake, Texas), [player_tooltip player_id=’26393’ first=’Ainsley’ last=’McCammon’] (Solar SC; Aubrey, Texas), [player_tooltip player_id=’33314’ first=’Ashlyn’ last=’Puerta’] (Albion SC; Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), Katharine Scott (Internationals; Erie, Pa.)<strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FORWARDS (5):&nbsp;</strong>Abby Ballek (Real Colorado; Timnath, Colo), [player_tooltip player_id=’19150’ first=’Ava’ last=’Harrison’] (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Caroline Helfrich (VA Union; Mclean, Va.), [player_tooltip player_id=’19178’ first=’Ayva’ last=’Jordan’] (Slammers FC; Las Vegas, Nev.), [player_tooltip player_id=’23361’ first=’Alexandra’ last=’Pfeiffer’] (St Louis Scott Gallagher; St. Louis, Mo.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four players invited for the training camp: defenders [player_tooltip player_id=’33320’ first=’Jocelyn’ last=’Travers’] (FC Bay Area Surf; Santa Cruz, Calif.) and Addison Stendera (Pacific Northwest; Renton, Wash.), midfielder Sofia Atehortua Montes (New York Soccer Club; Fairfield, Conn.) and forward Leena Powell (Tudela FC; Culver City, Calif.).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->