April 1, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nationally known as one of the best young soccer players in the nation, Arin Gilliland, who is entering her junior year at the University of Kentucky was called to the US Soccer U23 National Team Camp to be held in Carson, Calif., it was announced by US Soccer on Monday.
“This is really all just so surreal to me,” Gilliland said. “This is the opportunity I have been waiting my whole life for and I am excited to be able to go prove myself with the best players in the nation. I feel like I am back to the level I need to be at following my ACL injury a year ago. It is really nice to know after all this time, they still have the faith and confidence in me as a player and a person that I can compete at the highest level. I am going to go out there and give it my all and show them what I can offer to the team.”
Gilliland led the Wildcats in scoring a year ago, tallying seven goals and seven assists for 21 total points in over 1900 minutes on the pitch. Within those seven goals were three game-winning goals and three game-tying goals as well.
The junior from Lexington, Ky., was named a third-team All-American a year ago by CollegeSoccerMadness.com, as being named to the Topical Smoothie Invitational All-Tournament Team, Cardinal Classic All-Tournament Team, NSCAA All-South and First Team All-SEC.
The camp will run from April 13-20 in Carson, Calif.
The US U23 team is under the direction of Randy Waldrum, who will be also entering his 15th year as the head coach of the Notre Dame women’s soccer team. He has also coached at Baylor and Tulsa, and has won the national championship two times (2004, 2010).
For continuing coverage of UK women’s soccer, and Gilliland’s tenure with US Soccer, log on to UKathletics.com.
