Kruse Chosen to US U-23 National Team
4/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
April 20, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri women's soccer player Krista Kruse is one of 24 players from across the country called into the United States Under-23 National Team training camp, held April 18-25 at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore.
"We are very proud for Krista to be included among an elite group of college players," Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz said. "She is certainly deserving of the opportunity and we're excited for her to make the most out of the experience."
Kruse, a junior from Fort Collins, Colo., has shown her versatility as both an outside back and central midfielder for the Tigers. She was a chief contributor in Missouri's Big 12 Regular Season championship in 2009, as she started 21 games and scored three goals, all game winners, to go with two assists. In her collegiate career, she has compiled six goals and four assists going into her senior season.
The invitation marks the second such call-up for Missouri players in a one-year span. Seniors Michelle Collins, Meghan Pfeiffer and Crystal Wagner were all invited to the US U-23 trip to England last July, but only Wagner was able to attend, appearing in all three matches for the USA.
The Under-23 team is the highest level of youth international competition, one level below the full national team, and is coached by Bill Irwin. The squad will play Oregon State and the University of Portland in exhibition matches during the training camp.
