Sophomore soccer player Finley Lavin has been invited to join the U17 (under 17) US Women’s National Team Virtual Camp. According to her club team, Pipeline Soccer Club, Lavin “will be among those competing for a spot on the roster that will play in the next years’ FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India.”

     The sophomore says she has been playing soccer since she was 3-years-old. She currently plays for Pipline’s U19 team as a center back, but Lavin says she “also can play in the minefield.”

     Lavin describes the way she was picked for this camp as “not necessarily a process.” She says “US scouts come to our showcases and games to watch. From there if you spark interest to them they will continue to watch you for a while.” She also says “if they believe you meet their standards they call you up to the camp.”

     Typically, the training camp would be held in-person, but because of the pandemic it appears that it will be mostly virtual. “I’m mostly bummed that we can’t be there in person,” Lavin states, “hopefully we can see each other [all the players] soon.”

     As of this moment, Lavin reports that her and the other players selected for this camp “don’t know exactly what [they] will be doing because it is online.” but she says that they have been able to communicate using Zoom to discuss the “next steps.”

     Despite the setbacks of the pandemic, Lavin still expresses immense gratitude and optimism. “I am extremely grateful to even be invited virtually,” she says. “I was surprised and really excited when I first found out [I was selected].”

     Lavin says that she is most excited for the opportunity to be “able to communicate and compete with the best girls in the U17 age group.”

     As for the selection of athletes to play in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, Lavin says that she doesn’t know when that decision will be made, or if she will be picked. “Honestly, I have no clue,” she says.

     Aside from training with her team, Lavin also practices alone to perfect her skills. “My on-my-own trainings usually consist of a running/stretching warm up and then a solid amount of technical work,” she describes. “I will also do agility work, passing, moving, and shooting.”

     Lavin says that her ultimate goal with soccer is “to play on the US Women’s National Team” and also aims to play division one soccer in college and “potentially play pro.”