Four newcomers are competing for spots in the Philippine national women’s football team.
Their presence in an ongoing training camp in Irvine, California will help strengthen the roster of the Filipinas as they continue their buildup for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
National Coach Alen Stajcic said this as they get ready for friendlies with World Cup co-host New Zealand at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium on Sept. 6 (Sept. 7 in Manila).
The match will test the Filipinas’ strength as the Football Ferns are positioned at No. 22 in the FIFA rankings.
“The camp is going well. There’s lot of familiar faces,” said Stajcic in a Zoom huddle with Filipino scribes on Monday.
The four who will try to make an impression are goalkeeper Kaiya Rose Jota from Elite Club National League LA Breakers FC, defender Reina Bonta from Yale University, midfielder Reinna Gabriel from Cornell University, and midfielder Meryll Serrano of Norwegian club Arna-Bjørnar.
Most of the players, who played when the Filipinas took the bronze medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games and claimed the Philippines’ first ever 2022 ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship are back.
Among the veterans in the current roster are Isabella Flanigan, Katrina Guillou, Sarina Bolden, and Quinley Quezada, goalkeepers Kiara Fontanilla, Olivia Davies-McDaniel, and Kiara Fontanilla.
On the defensive side are Malea Cesar, Jessika Cowart, Sofia Harrison, Hali Long, Eva Madarang, Dominique Randle, and Tara Shelton.
In midfield are Tahnai Annis, Anicka Castaneda, Sara Eggesvik, Carleigh Frilles, Kaya Hawkinson, Jessica Miclat, Camille Rodriguez, and Jaclyn Sawicki.
“It’s very exciting to see how they (four new players) will fill in spots in the team and compete for positions,” said Stajcic.
Forward Chandler McDaniel, who is recovering from an injury, has also been named in the 27-player lineup for the upcoming friendly against New Zealand.
McDaniel is in a yearlong recovery period after suffering from a torn right ACL.
She sustained her injury playing in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India, where they won a spot to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
