For Immediate Release

January 7, 2010

Women’s Under-20 Squad Set for Atlantic Cup Curtain Raiser

BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby Women’s Under-20 National Team Coach Bryn Chivers has named his squad of 22 players set to take on the Canada U-20 Women on Saturday, Jan. 16, at Tiger Town in Lakeland, Fla. (kickoff 1 p.m. EST).

The match sets the stage for the final Atlantic Cup Test between the USA Women’s National Team and the Canada Women, also at Tiger Town (kickoff 3 p.m. EST).

The USA Under-20 WNT looks to extend a winning streak against its Canadian counterparts after enjoying a 38-20 victory at the 2009 U-20 Nations Cup. The squad is composed of 13 players with previous International experience, mixed with players from recent developmental squads and four brand new additions to the program.

Openside flanker Jozy Gessner of Colorado State will captain the squad for the curtain raiser match. A product of Colorado’s Summit High School rugby program, Gessner is poised to make her ninth international appearance since her 2007 debut against England.

Coach Chivers is confident in the team assembled for the first U-20 WNT outing of 2010.

“I’m excited about this squad. We have a lot of returning players with experience in key positions, but we also have an interesting group of new players who bring a fresh attitude to the squad,” Chivers said.

“Rachael Ryan from Wyoming and the three Rugby Oregon players - Amee Svatos, Hannah Lockwood and Erica Cardwell - all had outstanding performances at the Under-19 Women’s Invitational National All-Star Championships (INASC) in November (2009). They certainly possess the attitude and energy to push the experienced players for a starting spot.”

Chivers is also looking for big performances from some of his veteran players, who are eager to establish themselves as squad leaders in 2010, after sitting out during the 2009 season.

“We have some returning players with something to prove - Brie Barto and Lauren Danielsen both sat out last year after being in the squad that traveled to South Africa in 2008, and I think that will motivate them to show us skills we haven’t previously seen from them.”

According to Chivers, young Austin Valkyries player Kandis Ruiz, who was a member of the developmental squad in 2007, will be another athlete to watch: “Kandis hasn’t stopped working toward this goal since she first came into the program and she stood out as a member of both the West U-23s and West U-19s in 2009. Some players shine when they finally get their opportunity and we could see a breakout performance from Kandis in Florida.”

For more information on the USA Under-20 Women’s National Team and the Atlantic Cup, visit www.usarugby.org.

USA U-20 WNT Atlantic Cup squad

Sadie Anderson Penn State University

BrieAnna Barto Summit High School

Tara Burke Fallbrook, Calif.

Erica Cardwell Bend Women

Lauren Danielsen Colorado

Jozy Gessner Colorado State University (C)

Anne Lee Army

Hannah Lockwood Oregon State

Morgan Rovetti University of Nevada-Reno

Kandis Ruiz Austin Valkyries

Seymira Salamy Penn State University

Candace Barley Lee University

Sharron Gianessi Army

Katie Hathaway Norwich

Katie Humphreys Kent, Wash.

Katie Johnson Hopkins, Minn.

Britta Nelson University of Northern Iowa

Maggie Reidy University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Brittany Rose West Chester East

Rachael Ryan Wyoming

Wendy Sherman Colorado State University

Amee Svatos Canby, Ore.