Colaprico, DiBernardo, and Gorden named to December Camp

CHICAGO — Chicago Red Stars midfielders Danielle Colaprico, Vanessa DiBernardo, and defender Sarah Gorden were selected for the upcoming U.S. Women’s National Team Identification Camp that will take place from Dec. 9-14. 

Colaprico continued her consistent run of form for Chicago in 2019. In 21 appearances she had an impressive 76.6% pass success rate, including an 83.7% pass accuracy in the defensive half. Defensively she added 25 clearances and 33 interceptions while also contributing offensively with a goal against Sky Blue FC in June. Colaprico earned her first cap for the U.S. WNT in November of 2018 and had previous call-ups to U.S. Camp in 2015 and 2016. 

DiBernardo had another stellar season for the Red Stars. The midfielder made 23 appearances for Chicago in 2019, scoring two key goals for the team. Her first goal of the season in July was the equalizer in what would be a comeback victory in front of 17,388 fans at SeatGeek Stadium. Two months later, DiBernardo’s wonderful long-range strike would help Chicago clinch home-field advantage in the NWSL Semifinals. DiBernardo has previous experience with the U.S. WNT at the youth level as a key member of the U.S. team that won the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup. 

Gorden would have the best season of her career in 2019. She started in 25 of the 26 games Chicago played this season. She would earn her first career appearance in the NWSL Team of the Month squad in July and was a key part of a Red Stars defense that finished the regular season by allowing two goals in five games. She also helped the Chicago defense stifle Portland in the semifinals, shutting out the Thorns en route to the Red Stars’ first-ever NWSL Championship appearance. This will be Gorden’s first experience with the U.S. WNT at any level. 

The upcoming camp is being staged to evaluate younger players from the college game and those who have performed well in the National Women’s Soccer League or in pro leagues abroad, with the goal of deepening the player pool and positioning players for possible future call-ups to events in 2020.

U.S. WNT Roster – December Training Camp (Club/School; WNT Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (2): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 3/0), Casey Murphy (Reign FC; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Maycee Bell (UNC; 0/0), Malia Berkely (Florida State; 0/0), Imani Dorsey (Sky Blue FC; 0/0), Emily Fox (UNC; 3/0), Naomi Girma (Stanford; 0/0), Sarah Gorden (Chicago Red Stars; 0/0), Hailie Mace (Rosengård FC, SWE; 3/0), Kiara Pickett (Stanford; 0/0), Margaret Purce (Portland Thorns FC; 1/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars; 2/0), Vanessa DiBernardo (Chicago Red Stars; 0/0), Jordan DiBiasi (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Sarah Killion (Sky Blue FC; 0/0), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash; 15/1), Brianna Pinto (UNC; 0/0), Ashley Sanchez (UCLA; 0/0)

FORWARDS (6): Bethany Balcer (Reign FC; 0/0), Madison Haley (Stanford; 0/0), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Paige Monaghan (Sky Blue FC; 0;0), Sophia Smith (Stanford; 0/0), Ally Watt (Texas A&M; 0/0)