Monday, January 4, 2010

Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues defender Brittany Taylor is making her case for joining the U.S. Women's for a trip to Portugal next month for the Algarve Cup, impressing in a mixed scrimmage late last month and earning an extended stay in Los Angeles. Justin Rodriguez of the Times Herald-Record caught up with the young defender, who is also a WPS prospect.

Women's soccer: Taylor has chance to stick with US national team

Brittany Taylor distributed the ball up field to star U.S. women's national team midfielder Heather O'Reilly.

Taylor roamed the backfield with seasoned national team defender Amy LePeilbet.

This was last week during a scrimmage that mixed players from the U.S. Under-23 and full national teams together at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Taylor, a three-time Varsity845 Player of the Year (2002-04), is one of six outside defenders who will be in camp. Sundhage will likely keep three or four for the Algarve Cup. Two spots figure to be locked up — barring injury — by U.S. national team fixtures Heather Mitts and Lori Chalupny.

If Taylor makes the Algarve roster, she doesn't earn a permanent spot on the national team.

"This is more exciting because it's a smaller camp and in preparation of an event," said Taylor, who starred for the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues in the W-League this summer. "The last time there were two different pools. Playing with some of the players last week was good to see where I fit it, and I was confident next to them."

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