MEXICO CITY – A preliminary roster of 20 players was announced Thursday for Mexico’s participation in the 2018 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship to be played January 18-28 in Trinidad & Tobago.
Head coach Christopher Cuellar’s squad consists of 13 players from clubs in the Liga MX Femenil and seven based in the United States.
Twelve players in the side were on the Tricolor’s roster for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, including midfielder Jacqueline Ovalle and forward Daniela Espinosa, each of whom scored two goals in the competition.
Defender Kimberly Rodriguez competed in the 2014 and 2016 editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, while Club America midfielder Dayana Cazares and Pachuca forward Berenice Muñoz netted 10 and nine goals in the 2017 Liga MX Femenil Apertura, respectively.
The final training camp will open on January 5 at the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol’s Centro de Alto Rendimiento (High Performance Center).
In the CONCACAF event’s group stage, Mexico will face Jamaica (January 19), Nicaragua (January 21) and the United States (January 23).
Final rosters are to be submitted no later than 10 business days prior to the opening match of the competition.
ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Miriam Aguirre (Pachuca), Emily Alvarado (Texas Christian University/USA)
DEFENDERS: Samara Alcala (Atlas), Miriam Garcia (Guadalajara), Jimena Lopez (Texas A&M University/USA), Kimberly Rodriguez (Oklahoma State University/USA), Ashley Soto (SoCal Blues/USA), Mia Villegas (Davis Legacy/USA)
MIDFIELDERS: Dayana Cazares (Club America), Belen Cruz (Tigres), Alexia Delgado (Club America), Andrea Hernandez (Toluca), Montserrat Hernandez (Club America), Jacqueline Ovalle (Tigres), Maricarmen Reyes (West Coast FC/USA), Natalia Villarreal (Tigres)
FORWARDS: Daniela Espinosa (Club America), Gabriela Juarez (Slammers FC/USA), Katty Martínez (Tigres), Berenice Muñoz (Pachuca)
