Roster: U.S. U-20 women head to Spain for World Cup prep

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Mar 26, 2018

U.S. coach Jitka Klimkova, who's preparing the team for the 2018 U-20 World Cup (Aug. 5-24) in France, has called in 24 players for the March 29-April 10 trip to Spain.

• The squad is comprised eight players born in 1998 (the World Cup cutoff year), 13 born in 1999 and three born in 2000.

• The six players not yet in college are: Jordan Brewster (International SC), Naomi Girma (California Thorns FC), Jaelin Howell (Real Colorado), Brianna Pinto (NTH Tophat), Sophia Smith (Real Colorado) and Penelope Hocking (SoCal Blues).

• Earlier this month, Klimkova's team traveled to France and played the World Cup host twice, winning 1-0 and tying 2-2. Pinto scored in the first match and Smith scored both goals in the second.

U.S. U-20 women's national team
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brooke Heinsohn (Duke; Norfolk, Mass), Laurel Ivory (Virginia; Surfside, Fla.), Amanda McGlynn (Virginia Tech; Jacksonville, Fla.).
DEFENDERS (8): Jordan Brewster (Internationals SC; North Canton, Ohio), Naomi Girma (California Thorns FC; San Jose, Calif.), Samantha Hiatt (Stanford; Newcastle, Wash.), Tara McKeown (USC; Newbury Park, Calif.), Zoe Morse (Virginia; East Lansing, Mich.), Kiara Pickett (Stanford; Santa Barbara, Calif.), Isabel Rodriguez (Ohio State; Canton, Mich.), Karina Rodriguez (UCLA; Torrance, Calif.).
MIDFIELDERS (6): Samantha Coffey (Boston College; Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.), Savannah DeMelo (USC; Bellflower, Calif.), Jaelin Howell (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.), Taylor Kornieck (Colorado; Henderson, Nev.), Brianna Pinto (NTH Tophat; Durham, NC), Viviana Villacorta (UCLA; Lawndale, Calif.).
FORWARDS (7): Penelope Hocking (So Cal Blues; Anaheim, Calif.), Abigail Kim (California; Vashon, Wash.), Civana Kuhlmann (Stanford; Littleton, Colo.), Ashley Sanchez (UCLA; Monrovia, Calif.), Sophia Smith (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.), Taryn Torres (Virginia; Frisco, Texas), Kelsey Turnbow (Santa Clara; Scottsdale, Ariz.).