-Updated (8/10)- Virginia Players to attend National I.D. Camps

*Update - James (Max) Edwards was also at the U-14 camp bringing the total number of Virginia players to 9 from the previously reported 8. Edwards plays for PWSI.

Recently players from Virginia have been making quite a name for themselves on the natianal soccer scene with Ali Krieger gaining much deserved attention during the Women's World Cup and the news yesterday that D.C. United Academy talent Bill Hamid has been named to the USMNT roster for the August 10th match against rivals Mexico.

Looking to follow in their footsteps eight players have been identified through Virginia ODP to attend U.S. National Team I.D. Camps.

Virginia will have eight representatives at this year’s US National Team U-14 training camps. Three at the Girls’ National Team I.D. Camp held in Portland, Oregon and five Boys’ National Team I. D. Camp in Cason, California.

Goalkeeper Katelyn Jensen (McLean FC; Brambleton, Va.), midfielder Madeline McCracken (Central Virginia United; Lynch Station, Va.), and forward Caroline Kerns (PWSI; Reston, Va.) are attending the camp, which runs from July 31 through August 7. The camp features 72 of the most talented female players in the country who were born in 1997 or 1998 and is run by U.S. Soccer Women’s Development Director Jill Ellis. These players will be evaluated for a 36-player U-14 Girls’ National Team training camp later this fall and will form the core of the 2012 U-15 Girls’ National Team player pool.

Goalkeeper Drew Romig (Richmond Kickers; Midlothian, Va.), defenders Cole Spofford (VSA Heat; Broad Run, Va.) and Trey Vinson (PWSI Courage; Manassas, Va.), and midfielders Kevin Coleman (FC Richmond; Warreneton, Va.), and Brandon Williamson (D.C. United; Gainesville, Va.) are attending the camp, which runs from July 31 through August 6. The 80 players, under the direction of U-14 BNT head coach Manny Schellscheidt, will train together twice daily at the National Training Center. U.S. Soccer technical advisors and the national scouting network select the players for the identification camp.

These players were identified for these National team camps through US Youth Soccer ODP. US Youth Soccer ODP is divided into four regions with Virginia being in Region I. Virginia ODP is also divided into five districts – Central, Northern, Southeastern, West-Central and Western. Last year, 75 players (boys and girls) were named to Region I ODP squads.

For more information please visit http://www.vysa.com/ or call 540-693-1430.