Charlotte's Courtney Crandell Trains with the U-23 National Women's Soccer Team

Courtney Crandell

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte 49ers women's soccer player freshman Courtney Crandell traveled to Chula Vista, California last weekend to participate in the U-23 National Team training camp. She is the first Charlotte 49er women's player to take part in such an event.

This honor only adds to the many that she has received as a freshman for the Charlotte 49ers. She was named Soccer America Freshman All-American, First Team All- American by the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches of America), first-team NCSAA All Southeast Region and Conference USA Player of the Year.

Crandell was invited to the training camp to represent Region 2 (Iowa). The camp itself is designed for individual further development of a
player and as an indirect tryout for the national team itself. The player gets recognition at an early stage in their college career by the national coaches that will aid her in continuing development of her skills on the field.

"It was a really good learning experience." Crandell said. "It was great to be able to go out and play with a lot of good caliber people. And
it was nice to be able to watch really great soccer."

Crandell also said that though she was sick during most of her games she feels that she did well on the field.

"We are very happy for Courtney to have that opportunity," Charlotte coach Neil Roberts said. "We take great pride that we have a player like that in our program. The better she gets, the better we become as a team."

Crandell will return to the rest of the Charlotte 49ers women's soccer team in the spring when they embark on training for the 2003 campaign and its second-straight conference championship.