Spaanstra, Torres named to U.S. U-23 Women’s Youth National Team

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Fifth-year forward Alexa Spaanstra and recent alum Taryn Torres of the Virginia women’s soccer team have been named to the roster for the U.S. U-23 Women’s Youth National Team, it was announced on Wednesday.

Spaanstra, who is entering her fifth season with the Cavaliers this fall, is one of six forwards named to the roster. Torres, who completed her career with the Cavaliers this past fall, currently plays professionally for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League and is one of eight midfielders named to the roster.

The 21-player roster will travel to Sweden to compete in friendlies against India and the hosts in the Women’s U-23 Three-Nations Tournament. It is the first international competition for the squad since the fall of 2019.

The USA will face India on June 25 in Helsingborg the first-ever match between a U.S. Women’s National Team and the country that will host the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in October. The USA will face Sweden on June 28 in Vittsjo. Australia was scheduled to participate in this tournament but withdrew, making it a three-team competition.

Spaanstra is one of nine players on the roster who was part of the U.S. U-23 WYNT squad that participated in the pre-season tournament last March against NWSL teams. The USA drew 0-0 with the Chicago Red Stars, fell 3-0 to Portland Thorns FC and drew OL Reign 1-1. She is also one of six players on the roster who have competed for the U.S. in a youth World Cup.

Rouse to join U-20 Youth National Team for Sud Ladies Cup

Laney Rouse, a defender on the Virginia women’s soccer team, has been named to the U.S. U-20 Women’s Youth National Team that will compete in the Sud Ladies Cup in France as preparations for the 2022 FIFA U-20 World Cup continues.

The United States will travel to Aubagne, France, from June 16-29 as one of four teams competing in the Sud Ladies Cup. The USA will face France on June 24, Mexico on June 26 and the Netherlands on June 28. Aubagne is located 12 miles east of Marseille in the south of France.

These will be the final international matches for the U.S. U-20s before head coach Tracey Kevins selects a roster for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to be staged from Aug. 10-28 in Costa Rica.

All four teams participating in the Sud Ladies Cup have earned berths to Costa Rica and the tournament will serve as excellent World Cup preparation while including some intriguing matches for the USA, which defeated Mexico, 2-0, in the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship Final on March 12. The USA will face the Netherlands in the second match of group play at the World Cup on Aug. 14 in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Rouse competed with the U-20 Youth National Team at the Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship in the Dominican Republic, helping the USA claim the championship and secure a berth to the U-20 Women’s World Cup. She was also a part of the U-20 Training camp in December of 2021 in preparation for the Concacaf Championships held in the Dominican Republic this past spring.