SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Costa Rica head coach Amelia Valverde announced Tuesday a 18-player roster for the Central American Football Union’s under-20 women’s qualifying competition, which will be played July 31-August 8 at the Estadio Maracana in Panama City, Panama.
The squad is highlighted by the inclusion of 18-year-old forward Melissa Herrera, who scored one goal in three appearances for the senior side in the recently completed FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Also meriting selection was 15-year-old midfielder Gloriana Villalobos, who played in the 2014 FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups. She was also on Costa Rica’s roster for the Women’s World Cup, but did not see any action.
Forward Sofia Varela, 17, was also chosen. Last year, she netted the Ticas’ only goal of the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
"It's always difficult to select the final list, but that is it because there is competition and that's a national tean,” said Valverde. “The players have worked very well and we hope in God to have made the right decision.”
Costa Rica will open its campaign against El Salvador on Friday, before facing Guatemala (August 2), Nicaragua (August 4) and Panama (August 6).
Only the first-place finisher will earn a place in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship to be played December 3-13, 2015, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
COSTA RICA UNDER-20 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
(Central American Football Union Under-20 Qualifying: July 31-August 8, 2015, in Panama City, Panama)
GOALKEEPERS: Yolian Salas (Moravia), Daniela Solera (UCEM Alajuela)
DEFENDERS: María Laura Araya (Moravia), Stephanie Blanco (Arenal Coronado), María Paula Coto (Dimas Alajuela), María Paula Elizondo (Saprissa), Natalia Harley (Dimas Escazú), Fabiola Villalobos (Dimas Escazú)
MIDFIELDERS: Anyi Barrantes (UCEM Alajuela), Indira González (Dimas Escazú), María José Morales (Moravia), Carmen Rapaport (Arenal Coronado), Emelie Valenciano (UCEM Alajuela), Gloriana Villalobos (Saprissa)
FORWARDS: Katherine Arroyo (UCEM Alajuela), Melissa Herrera (Saprissa), María Paula Salas (San Ramón), Sofía Varela (Dimas Escazú)
