Feb. 7, 2008

Washington, D.C. - Georgetown University freshman Ingrid Wells (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair) was recently invited to play as a member of the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team. The squad will travel to La Serena, Chile, from February 7-17, as part of continuing preparations for CONCACAF Qualifying for the 2008 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup (WWC). Wells is the first Georgetown women's soccer player to ever be called up to a National Team.

The USA will play three matches against other U-20 teams, taking on England on February 11, Norway on February 13 and host Chile on February 15. Dates and venues for CONCACAF qualifying have yet to be set, but the eight-team tournament, which will send three teams to the WWC, will feature Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua and the USA.

This trip will provide some valuable acclimatization for the U-20s and give new Head Coach Tony DiCicco his first look at the player pool under international game conditions. All three opponents have already qualified for the U-20 WWC, meaning the Americans will get three excellent matches as a preview to possible matches in the WWC. The WWC will be held from November 20-Dcember 7 in Chile and will feature 16 countries.

DiCicco will bring 18 players to Chile, including two who represented the United States at the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in Russia, in forwards Kelley O'Hara and Casey Nogueira. Of the 18 players, 16 are in college with the two high school-age players being 2007 Gatorade National Player of the Year Melissa Henderson and 2007 Parade Girl's Soccer Player of the Year Teresa Noyola, both seniors.