Jan. 3, 2012

U.S. Soccer Release

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois soccer sophomore midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo was selected to participate in the U.S. U-20 Women's National Team by head coach Steve Swanson, as announced by U.S. Soccer on Tuesday. DiBernardo joins 29 other student-athletes from around the country for two weeks at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., from Jan. 5-19.

The U.S. U-20 team plays a pair of scrimmages against Shanghai Women's Football Club of China during the camp as the squad gears up for the qualifying rounds of the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, beginning with the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament held from March 1-11 in Panama. DiBernardo is joined by two additional Big Ten Conference representatives as Penn State's Kori Chapic and Maya Hayes were also selected to attend.

Previously, DiBernardo worked with the U.S. U-20 and U-23 teams during the 2011 summer months, when the Naperville, Ill., native was called upon on three occasions, including two stints with the U-23 program.