Long Beach State junior forward Nadia Link was invited to train with the United States Under-23 Women’s National Soccer Team, LBSU head coach Mauricio Ingrassia announced Sunday.
Ingrassia first broke the news via Twitter late Sunday night: “Nadia Link gets late call up to U-23 US National Team camp at Home Depot this week. Well deserved…”
The training camp, which will be held from October 2-7 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, will be overseen by U.S. Soccer Women’s Development Director Jill Ellis, U.S. Soccer Women’s Technical Director April Heinrichs and U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Pia Sundhage.
“If you were to tell me three years ago that I would be where I am right now, I would’ve laughed because this never crossed my mind at all,” Link said. “I am extremely thankful to my family first and foremost and then my team and coaches. They have all been really supportive and encouraging, and have all played a big part in anything I’ve achieved thus far.”
Link will join 24 other collegiate and professional players who will be evaluated in preparation for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Vancouver, Canada in January, and eventually, the 2012 Olympics in London.
Sundhage told USSoccer.com that she is looking for young talent to call up to the U.S. Women’s National team after a successful run in the 2011 FIFA World Cup.
“In order to make the Women’s National Team, you must be able to play with different players,” Sundhage said, “and sometimes coming into a training camp you have to adjust your game. It’s not the same teammates in college or club teams, and you have to perform for a week in every single practice. Some players embrace that and get inspired, and for some of them, it takes a bit longer…”
Several players on the list for the training camp have participated in youth World Cups over the last few cycles, and three players have already earned their caps with the full U.S. Women’s National Team.
The U-23 team also includes University of California, Berkeley alumna Alex Morgan who became a household name after the FIFA Women’s World Cup this past summer.
Link, who has been one of the most productive collegiate forwards in the nation this year, leads the Big West Conference with 11 goals and 29 points. She has found the back of the net in eight of LBSU’s 13 games, including three multiple-goal performances.
The Rowland Heights, Calif. native is just the seventh LBSU player to reach double figures in scoring since the program was reinstated in 1998. She is also on pace to break the single-season school record of 16 goals, which was set by Annette Fernandez.
Link already ranks among the all-time top 10 in LBSU history in goals (6th, 19), points (T7th, 46) and shots (T9th, 92).
Link will be back with the 49ers for their Big West home opener against Cal State Fullerton on Sunday at George Allen Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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