Feb. 11, 2013

UCLA sophomores Sarah Killion and Samantha Mewis and newly-turned professional Zakiya Bywaters have been selected to the U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team roster for a Feb. 22-Mar. 5 trip to La Manga, Spain. The U.S. will face U-23 teams from Norway, England and Sweden.

Killion and Mewis were members of the U.S. U-20 team that won the 2012 FIFA U-20 World Cup last fall. Bywaters is coming off a nearly two-week stint training with the full National Team.

All three Bruins earned All-Pac-12 honors in 2012, with Bywaters and Killion receiving first-team acclaim, and Mewis earning second-team honors. Bywaters and Killion were also first-team NSCAA All-Region honorees and were selected to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Season. Bywaters, the No. 1 draft pick in the 2013 NWSL collegiate draft, was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and a consensus first-team All-American.

The U.S. will play Norway on Feb. 28, Sweden on March 2 and finish up the four-team tournament against England on March 4.

U.S. U-23 WNT Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jami Kranich (Villanova; Hamden, Conn.), Abby Smith (Texas; Dallas, Texas)

DEFENDERS (8): Natasha Anasi (Duke; Arlington, Texas); Julie Johnston (Santa Clara; Mesa, Ariz.), Kassey Kallman (Florida State; Woodbury, Minn.), Camille Levin (Göteborg FC; Newport Coast, Calif.), Lindsi Lisonbee (Sky Blue FC; Provo, Utah), Toni Pressley (Ryazan VDV; Melbourne, Fla.), Casey Short (Boston Breakers; Naperville, Ill.), Courtney Verloo (Stanford; Tualatin, Ore.)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Morgan Brian (Virginia; St. Simon's Island, Ga.), Zakiya Bywaters (Chicago Red Stars; Las Vegas, Nev.), Vanessa DiBernardo (Illinois; Naperville, Ill.), Sarah Killion (UCLA; Fort Wayne, Ind.), Kristie Mewis (FC Kansas City; Hanson, Mass.), Samantha Mewis (UCLA; Hanson, Mass.)

FORWARDS (4): Morgan Marlborough (Santa Clara; Raymore, Mo.), Tiffany McCarty (Washington Spirit; Laurel, Md.), Stephanie Ochs (Washington Spirit; San Diego, Calif.), Havana Solaun (Florida; Gainesville, Fla.)