[U.S. UNDER-20 WOMEN] Five UCLA players — star Sydney Leroux, Zakiya Bywatersand Lucretia Lee as well as recruits Samantha Mewis and Jenna Richmond –head the 18-player squad Bruin coach Jill Ellis, who doubles as the U.S. U-20 coach, is taking to the La Manga Cup in Spain for a four-nation tournamentfeaturing the under-23 national teams from Norway, England and Germany.
Florida State is represented with three players, and North Carolina and Stanford, who met in the 2009 College Cupfinal, have two each headed to Spain.
The matches against the older squads will kick off the USA’s preparations for its title defense at the 2010 U-20 Women’s World Cup inGermany.
The U.S. roster features 16 players from the roster that helped the USA win the CONCACAF U-20 championship.
U.S. U-20 Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Adrianna Franch (Oklahoma State), Bianca Henninger (Santa Clara)
DEFENDERS (6): Amber Brooks(North Carolina), Crystal Dunn (Albertson SC), Kendall Johnson (Portland), Lucretia Lee (UCLA), Toni Pressley (Florida State), Rachel Quon (Stanford)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Zakiya Bywaters (UCLA), Samantha Mewis (Scorpions SC; Hanson, Mass.), Teresa Noyola (Stanford), Jenna Richmond (McLean SC), Casey Short (Florida State)