Lyn Dowling

For FLORIDA TODAY;

Some observers have called Katie Stengel one of the game's best young women's soccer players.

This week, U.S. Women's National Team coach Tom Sermanni made it official by naming her to his training camp roster for the team's friendly match against China PR April 6 in Colorado and April 10 in San Diego.

"I was in St. Louis with my family for spring break and ended up getting a call from a number I didn't recognize," the 22-year-old Viera resident said. "It turned out to be (a representative of) the Women's National Team) and he said 'Tom Sermanni wants you to come to camp.' I couldn't believe it. I am so happy."

The call gave Stengel multiple reasons to be happy after a difficult senior season at Wake Forest.

A four time All-American and her university's all-time leading scorer with 50 goals and 125 points, the former Space Coast United standout and Florida Class 4A High School Player of the Year was diagnosed with two blood clots (deep-vein thromboses) in the leg last October.

"I was out for three months on blood thinners and another month coming off blood thinners, so I missed half the ACC season and all of the postseason," she said. "It was so disappointing."

But the Viera High graduate persevered and studied — she is an ACC Academic All-American who has won a postgraduate scholarship — and resumed training in January.

Earlier this month, she scored against Norway to help the U.S. Women's Under-23 National Team win the Six Nations Tournament in LaManga, Spain. She also is the seventh player from the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup championship team to have been named to the full national squad.

Stengel, who also plays for the Los Angeles Blues of the pro-am W-League, joins Virginia's Morgan Brian and UCLA's Samantha Mewis as the only three college players on the national team's 24-player roster.

Her coach at Wake Forest couldn't be happier.

"We are very excited to see Katie called up to the full national team for the first time," Tony da Luz said. "This is a really great opportunity for her, and we're looking forward to seeing what she can do at the top level of international soccer."

So does Stengel, who will report to camp Monday.

"I'm not even sure I'll dress for the game because only 18 players can, but it's so exciting," she said. "I'll be there. I can't wait."

The roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jill Loyden (Sky Blue FC), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS (9): Stephanie Cox (Seattle Reign FC), Whitney Engen (Tyresö), Meghan Klingenberg (Tyresö), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Paris Saint-Germain), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Samantha Mewis (UCLA), Heather O'Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Christen Press (Tyresö), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Katie Stengel (LA Blues), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)