Photo by: Spencer Gnauck/Texas A&M Athletics
Watt Joins U.S. Soccer U23 Team for Thorns Spring Invitational
Mar 20, 2019 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M senior forward Ally Watt earned a spot on the United States Under-23 Women's National Team as it heads to the 2019 Thorns Spring Invitational from March 24-30.
"Ally is very special," Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri said. "It is wonderful to see her earn this opportunity to represent our nation. We are extremely proud of her and all that she's accomplished."
U.S. Soccer U-23 national team head coach B.J. Snow named Watt among a 24-player roster for the Thorns Invitational where the Americans will play Reign FC, Portland Thorns FC and the Chicago Red Stars in the four-team NWSL preseason competition. Watt will face a pair of Aggie soccer players with Shea Groom recently joining Reign FC and Alyssa Mautz entering her seventh season with the Red Stars.
Watt has earned numerous invitations to play for the Red, White & Blue, including a previous invitation to U23 training camps. She redshirted her sophomore campaign in order to participate in the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea. The Colorado Springs native played in 14 matches for the United States U20 squad, including five matches in the World Cup. She notched seven goals during her time with the U20s, including two in World Cup action. She was named the FIFA Player of the Match in USA's 2-1 victory over Mexico in World Cup play.
"We have placed many Aggie soccer players on national teams and professional teams over the years," Guerrieri said. "It has always been a big boost to the development of those players, but it's also been helpful to our Texas A&M training environment through those soccer experiences."
In 2018, Watt earned All-America First Team recognition from United Soccer Coaches, as well as being named to the Top Drawer Soccer Best XI. The mercurial forward led the SEC and ranked seventh in the nation with 15 goals. She added three assists on the year to rank third in the league with 33 points. She was a two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week in 2018.
Watt has 70 Aggie caps, including 59 starts. She has logged 71 points on 33 goals, which ranks 10th on Texas A&M's career list.
U.S. U-23 WNT Roster – 2019 Thorns Spring Invitational:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Laurel Ivory (Virginia; Surfside, Fla.), Amanda McGlynn (Virginia Tech; Jacksonville, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (8): Maycee Bell (NC Courage Academy; Wichita, Kan.), Schuyler Debree (Sparta Prague, CZE; Fair Haven, N.J.), Emily Fox (UNC; Chapel Hill, N.C.), Naomi Girma (Stanford; San Jose, Calif.), Meaghan Nally (Georgetown; Herndon, Va.), Kirsten Pavlisko (Florida State; Middleburg, Fla.), Kiara Pickett (Stanford; Santa Barbara, Calif.), Kaleigh Riehl (Penn State; Fairfax Station, Va.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Savannah DeMelo (USC; Bellflower, Calif.), Emina Ekic (Louisville; Fairdale, Ky.), Channing Foster (Mississippi; Murray, Ky.), Jaelin Howell (Florida State; Windsor, Colo.), Jenna Nighswonger (Florida State; Huntington Beach, Calif.), Brianna Pinto (UNC; Durham, NC)
FORWARDS (8): Paula Germino-Watnick (Georgetown; Chevy Chase, Md.), Penelope Hocking (USC; Anaheim, Calif.), Haley Hopkins (Vanderbilt; Newport Beach, Calif.), Catarina Macario (Stanford; San Diego, Calif.), Ashley Sanchez (UCLA; Monrovia, Calif.), Martha Thomas (Le Havre, FRA); Weston, Fla.), Ally Watt (Texas A&M; Colorado Springs, Colo.), Morgan Weaver (Washington State; University Place, Wash.)
2019 Thorns Spring Invitational Schedule – Merlo Field, University of Portland
Sunday, March 24
Reign FC vs. U.S. U-23 WNT - 11:30 a.m.
Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars - 3 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27
Chicago Red Stars vs. Reign FC - 3:30 p.m.
Portland Thorns FC vs. U.S. U-23 WNT - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 30
U.S. U-23 WNT vs. Chicago Red Stars - 3:30 p.m.
Portland Thorns FC vs. Reign FC - 9:30 p.m.
"Ally is very special," Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri said. "It is wonderful to see her earn this opportunity to represent our nation. We are extremely proud of her and all that she's accomplished."
U.S. Soccer U-23 national team head coach B.J. Snow named Watt among a 24-player roster for the Thorns Invitational where the Americans will play Reign FC, Portland Thorns FC and the Chicago Red Stars in the four-team NWSL preseason competition. Watt will face a pair of Aggie soccer players with Shea Groom recently joining Reign FC and Alyssa Mautz entering her seventh season with the Red Stars.
Watt has earned numerous invitations to play for the Red, White & Blue, including a previous invitation to U23 training camps. She redshirted her sophomore campaign in order to participate in the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea. The Colorado Springs native played in 14 matches for the United States U20 squad, including five matches in the World Cup. She notched seven goals during her time with the U20s, including two in World Cup action. She was named the FIFA Player of the Match in USA's 2-1 victory over Mexico in World Cup play.
"We have placed many Aggie soccer players on national teams and professional teams over the years," Guerrieri said. "It has always been a big boost to the development of those players, but it's also been helpful to our Texas A&M training environment through those soccer experiences."
In 2018, Watt earned All-America First Team recognition from United Soccer Coaches, as well as being named to the Top Drawer Soccer Best XI. The mercurial forward led the SEC and ranked seventh in the nation with 15 goals. She added three assists on the year to rank third in the league with 33 points. She was a two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week in 2018.
Watt has 70 Aggie caps, including 59 starts. She has logged 71 points on 33 goals, which ranks 10th on Texas A&M's career list.
U.S. U-23 WNT Roster – 2019 Thorns Spring Invitational:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Laurel Ivory (Virginia; Surfside, Fla.), Amanda McGlynn (Virginia Tech; Jacksonville, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (8): Maycee Bell (NC Courage Academy; Wichita, Kan.), Schuyler Debree (Sparta Prague, CZE; Fair Haven, N.J.), Emily Fox (UNC; Chapel Hill, N.C.), Naomi Girma (Stanford; San Jose, Calif.), Meaghan Nally (Georgetown; Herndon, Va.), Kirsten Pavlisko (Florida State; Middleburg, Fla.), Kiara Pickett (Stanford; Santa Barbara, Calif.), Kaleigh Riehl (Penn State; Fairfax Station, Va.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Savannah DeMelo (USC; Bellflower, Calif.), Emina Ekic (Louisville; Fairdale, Ky.), Channing Foster (Mississippi; Murray, Ky.), Jaelin Howell (Florida State; Windsor, Colo.), Jenna Nighswonger (Florida State; Huntington Beach, Calif.), Brianna Pinto (UNC; Durham, NC)
FORWARDS (8): Paula Germino-Watnick (Georgetown; Chevy Chase, Md.), Penelope Hocking (USC; Anaheim, Calif.), Haley Hopkins (Vanderbilt; Newport Beach, Calif.), Catarina Macario (Stanford; San Diego, Calif.), Ashley Sanchez (UCLA; Monrovia, Calif.), Martha Thomas (Le Havre, FRA); Weston, Fla.), Ally Watt (Texas A&M; Colorado Springs, Colo.), Morgan Weaver (Washington State; University Place, Wash.)
2019 Thorns Spring Invitational Schedule – Merlo Field, University of Portland
Sunday, March 24
Reign FC vs. U.S. U-23 WNT - 11:30 a.m.
Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars - 3 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27
Chicago Red Stars vs. Reign FC - 3:30 p.m.
Portland Thorns FC vs. U.S. U-23 WNT - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 30
U.S. U-23 WNT vs. Chicago Red Stars - 3:30 p.m.
Portland Thorns FC vs. Reign FC - 9:30 p.m.
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