Feb. 24, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s soccer player Arin Gilliland was selected to play on the United States Women’s National Team U23 squad in the 2014 calendar-year opening tournament, it was announced by US Soccer in Chicago.
Gilliland was one of 20 players selected by U23 head coach Steve Swanson to compete in the Six Nations Tournament and represent the United States. The Lexington, Ky., native was called in as one of six defenders to make the squad. She joins six forwards, six midfielders and two goalkeepers that comprise the 20-man roster traveling to Spain.
The United States U23 team will play three international matches over the course of the week in the Six Nations Tournament, facing world powers Japan, Sweden and Norway between Feb. 24 and March 6 in La Manga, Spain.
The group of 20 select players includes six players who are headed into their first season in the National Women’s Soccer League, and three players who will be returning to the NWSL for its second season. Gilliland is one of three players who come from the Southeastern Conference who were named to the team, as Texas A&M’s Shea Groome and former Florida All-American Erika Tymrak made the squad in addition to Gilliland.
Gilliland, recently named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, she collected 34 points, scored a career-high 12 goals, assisted on 10 goals, just one shy of the program record, set a new school record in shots with 100, scored three game-winning goals and was named first team All-Southeastern Conference.
Named a team captain in the spring of 2012, the Lexington, Ky., native took the season by storm, serving as one of Kentucky’s three team leaders in the fall of 2013. Gilliland played over 1,800 minutes on the pitch for the Wildcats, rewriting the record books in a number of categories.
2014 U-23 Women’s Six Nations Tournament – USWNT Schedule
March 1 – United States vs. Japan
March 3 – United States vs. Sweden
March 5 – United States vs. Norway
For continuing coverage of UK women’s soccer, log on to UKathletics.com.
