July 21, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; July 21, 2014 - Freshman Rose Chandler (Atlanta, Ga.) was one of two Nittany Lions recently named to the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team. Alongside sophomore Brittany Basinger (Purcellville, Va.), the pair will compete at the 2014 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in August under Head Coach Michelle French and Penn State Head Coach Erica Walsh, an assistant coach for the team.
Chandler's first appearance on the U-20 team, she was a member of the U-18 team for just under a year. She talked about her experience at the U-20 camp, held July 9-18 in Seattle, Wash., what it will be like to compete for the United States and how she thinks the experience will help her transition to playing at the Division I level.
This was the first U.S. U-20 camp you were invited to but you've been on the U-18 team since August. What did it mean to receive the invitation?
Being invited to camp is such an exciting feeling. There are never any guarantees so I get the same feeling every time I get an invite.
What were your expectations coming into camp?
I always expect the level of play to be at the highest standard from my teammates and I hold myself to that standard as well. I have never been disappointed on that expectation. Every player brings so much positive energy on and off the field and always comes ready to play.
What was the most beneficial part of the camp?
The most beneficial part of camp is the coaching, not only from the coaches themselves but from my teammates. I learned something every session whether it was from talking to my goalkeeper coach, watching, or having a discussion with one of the other goalkeepers.
How do you think your experience at the U-20 camp and competing on the U-20 team will help you this coming season for the Lions?
Camp will help me this season at Penn State because I'm getting to play with world class players and I'm getting coached by some of the best. Most of the players on this roster have played a lot of college soccer and have international experience so it's definitely going to help me adjust from club to college at a faster pace. Penn State is an exceptional soccer program so I hope to bring my experiences back to my college team and help them in every way that I can.
You spent nearly two weeks in Seattle. Did you enjoy your time in the city?
We had a team outing during the camp and took a tour of Seattle. It's honestly the coolest city I have ever been to. It's full of modern art and architecture and it's right on the water.
Did you know any of the other players before you got to camp?
I knew about six players coming into my first U-20 camp. Two of them have been my teammates on the U-18 national team since last August. All the other players I knew of but had never actually gotten the chance to meet before this camp. Immediately upon arriving to camp I felt welcomed from every player and coach. My teammates and I can talk about anything. We all have many other interests outside of soccer and our conversations range from college experiences to our favorite hobbies. We talk about all sorts of stuff. I'm always laughing and having a good time with everyone.
What does the opportunity to represent the USA mean to you?
This is a difficult question to answer because representing my country means so much to me. The emotions that I get when I wear the crest are indescribable. There is a feeling of immense honor being able to represent your country at any level.
The U-20 Women's World Cup is Aug. 5-24 in Canada. The United States opens the tournament on Aug. 5 against Germany in Edmonton, Alta., Canada. For more information on the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, visit http://fifa.com/u20womensworldcup.