San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Stanford’s Macario gets citizenship, callup
Brazilianborn Catarina Macario had an eventful day: She got called into training camp with the U. S. women’s national team and she became a U. S. citizen.
The Stanford midfielder was one of four college players invited Thursday to take part in the U. S. team’s first gathering in some seven months. That same day, she announced on social media that she had become a citizen.
“In January 2012, I moved to the beautiful city of San Diego with my dad, mom, and brother in search of the American dream. I immediately felt at home and that I belonged. I am now proud to say that today this dream came true,” she wrote. “After a long and amazing day, I am honored and humbled to have received an invitation to the USWNT training camp… and officially be sworn in as a citizen of the United States.”
The twotime winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation’s best college player, Macario had a Stanford singleseason record of 32 goals and 23 assists last year as the Cardinal won the national championship. This is the first time Macario has been called into a senior national team camp.
Macario cannot appear in a match with the national team yet. U. S. Soccer must ask FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, for permission.
However, a new rule change could help her appeal. FIFA previously held that a player had to live in a country for five years after their 18th birthday to be eligible. Now, it’s five years from arrival.
On a conference call Friday with reporters, U. S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said he’s excited for Macario’s new chapter. Andonovski himself became a citizen in 2015. “Anyone who has seen Catarina play in college can tell that she’s a special talent,” Andonovski said. “She’s incredibly skillful, can score in many different ways, and it’s just fun to watch. She’s got a flair.”
Andonovski called in 27 domesticbased players for the camp, leaving regulars who currently are playing in Europe off the roster, including Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, Tobin Heath, Stanford alum Christen Press and Cal alum Alex Morgan. Morgan, who is making her way back after the birth of her daughter, went to Europe to get competition time with the Olympics looming next year. The United States has already made the field for the Tokyo Games.
Morgan went to Tottenham, Press and Heath signed with Manchester United, and Lavelle and Mewis joined Manchester City.
Megan Rapinoe has opted out of the camp because of injury concerns. Carli Lloyd, Mallory Pugh and goalkeeper Adrianna Franch are out with injuries and Santa Clara alum Julie Ertz has a family commitment.
The camp will run Oct. 1828 in Commerce City, Colo., with players sequestered in a hotel because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the reigning World Cup champions have gathered since the SheBelieves Cup in March.
Twentythree of the players are currently playing in the National Women’s Soccer League, including uncapped players Sarah Gorden of the Chicago Red Stars and Shea Groom from the Houston Dash.
“I need to see how they react to the environment, the speed and intensity,” Andonovski said about the new players. “This camp will be a great experience for them because it’s obvious that the more experienced players, especially the ones overseas, are not going to be here.”
Anne M. Peterson is an Associated Press writer.