CHICAGO – U.S. Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team head coach Tracey Kevins has named a 24-player roster for the team’s first training camp of the year, taking place from January 15-22 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. On that list was none other than Notre Dame sophomore Leah Klenke. The Houston native is coming off a stellar year with the Irish and looks to build upon her U.S. Youth National Team experience. The camp marks the first steps toward the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, to be held in Colombia in September, for which the USA qualified last June at the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic.
As previously mentioned, Klenke is no stranger to the U.S. soccer scene. In 2023, she was invited to the combined U-18/U-19 training camp in Carson and also made the U-20 roster for the CONCACAF Championships.
Last fall at Notre Dame, Klenke was an offensive sparkplug. She led the team with 10 assists, which ranked top-20 nationally and top-five in the ACC. She finished with a career-best 14 points after adding two goals as well.
The training camp roster features three professional players, 18 college players and three youth club players.
U.S. U-20 Women’s Youth National Team
January Training Camp Roster by Position (College or Club; Hometown)
Goalkeepers (3): Mackenzie Gress (Penn State; Lyndhurst, N.J.), Jordan Nytes (Colorado; Aurora, Colo.), Teagan Wy (California; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Defenders (7): Elise Evans (Stanford; Redwood City, Calif.), Gracie Falla (South Carolina; Hattiesburg, Miss.), Nicki Fraser (Real Colorado National; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Heather Gilchrist (Florida State; Boulder, Colo.), Savannah King (North Carolina; West Hills, Calif.), Leah Klenke (Notre Dame; Houston, Texas), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; Studio City, Calif.)
Midfielders (7): Sam Courtwright (Texas Tech; Dallas, Texas), Danielle Davis (Clemson; Port Washington, N.Y.), Shae Harvey (Stanford; Hermosa Beach, Calif.), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; Bethlehem, N.Y.), Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage; Roswell, Georgia), Ally Lemos (UCLA; Glendora, Calif.), Lauren Martinho (North Carolina Courage Academy; Cary, N.C.)
Forwards (7): Madeline Dahlien (North Carolina; Edina, Minn.), Jordynn Dudley (Florida State; Milton, Ga.), Kat Rader (Duke; Stuart, Fla.), Giana Riley (Gonzaga; Manteca, Calif.), Ally Sentnor (North Carolina; Hanson, Mass.), Taylor Suarez (Charlotte Soccer Academy; Charlotte, N.C.), Pietra Tordin (Princeton; Doral, Fla.)
— ND —