USWNT: December Training Camp Set

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After finishing the year with a 13-0-3 record the U.S. Women's national soccer team will wind up the season in Carson, CA for a two week training camp beginning December 3rd. Coach Tom Sermanni who is completing his first year as the senior national coach for the U.S. has called up thirty-one players to participate in the camp which will be held at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center.

Two familiar faces to the national team will be making a return to training after both missed the 2013 season. Forward Amy Rodriguez who has been a part of the national team since 2008 is returning after giving birth to her first child in August. Also making a big return to the pitch is Amy LePeilbet who has been a part of the national team since 2004. LePeilbet earned a starting defensive role on the recent Women's World Cup and Olympic teams and is returning after undergoing her second ACL repair earlier this year. 

Seven goalkeepers earned the invitation to the training camp though that number is expected to be whittled down after a special pre-camp training session will be held with U.S. Soccer goalkeeper coach Paul Rogers. Veteran goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris will not be a part of this training camp as she is undergoing minor knee surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus on her left knee at the beginning of December; she is expected to only miss 4-6 weeks. 

Below is the list of players invited per U.S. Soccer.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster  GOALKEEPERS (7): Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), Brittany Cameron (Sky Blue FC), Adrianna Franch (WNY Flash), Jill Loyden (Sky Blue FC), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Abby Smith (Texas), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC) 
DEFENDERS (10): Rachel Buehler (Portland Thorns FC), Stephanie Cox (Seattle Reign FC), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina), Whitney Engen (unattached), Meghan Klingenberg (unattached), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Amy LePeilbet (Chicago Red Stars), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City) 
MIDFIELDERS (8): Yael Averbuch (unattached), Morgan Brian (Virginia), Amber Brooks (Bayern Munich), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Julie Johnston (Santa Clara), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Erika Tymrak (Bayern Munich) 
FORWARDS (6): Sarah Hagen (Bayern Munich), Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (unattached), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash) 

While 2013 has been an off year as far as serious competition for the U.S. Women, 2014 will be the exact opposite. Sermanni has used the bulk of this past year to test his lineups with an even mix of veteran and up-and-coming new faces. However with Women's World Cup qualifying taking place in 2014 this camp will most likely solidify the players Sermanni looks to carry on his national team as they make the push towards qualification at the end of 2014. 

The first scheduled game of 2014 will feature an international friendly against the Canadian national team on January 31 in Frisco, TX. 

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