Canon-McMillan Soccer Stand-Out to Represent United States on U-20 Women's National Team
August 16, 2012 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (August 16, 2012) Taylor Schram, a 2010 Canon-McMillan High School graduate, was recently selected to be a part of the United States Under-20 Women's National Team. Schram is one of 21 individuals from across the country selected to represent the United States in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, being held in Japan from August 19 through September 8. She is the only player on the team from Pennsylvania.
"It has always been a dream of mine, but now that it is actually happening it's unbelievable," said Schram about making the U.S. U-20 Women's National Team. "I can't even put it into words."
Schram, a junior forward and midfielder on Penn State University's Women's Soccer Team, was invited to try out for the team after her performance in this year's soccer season, tallying 12 goals, 12 assists, and 36 points for the Nittany Lions as well as earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors.
"I got invited to try out in January for the first camp, but I could not go because I was injured all the way through May. I was invited to the last camp in July before the final roster was made," said Schram.
Jason Kutney, CEO and player for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds was thrilled to hear about Schram's selection to the team.
"Taylor's selection to the World Cup is a major step forward for Western Pa. soccer," said Kutney. Since 2006, Kutney has trained Schram using a tiered training regimen that focuses on the overall development of a player's technique. This curriculum has become the foundation for The Riverhounds Academy youth training program, which currently works with over 650 elite soccer players ages 4 and 17 from Western Pa., eastern Ohio, and West Virginia.
"The Schrams came to me a few years ago, as they were in need of quality technical training for Taylor," said Kutney. "The small group and individual sessions with Taylor enabled me to work on her mental approach and to help her realize she could be a big time player."
"Jason has played at the highest level so he helped show me what it takes to get there," said Schram. "He has helped develop my technical skills a lot over the years and it has made all the difference in who I am as a player today."
In addition to Schram's individual training sessions, Kutney has trained her in group sessions with other local players who have moved on to the Division I collegiate level, such as Caroline Keefer (Moon High School), who currently is starring on University of Pittsburgh's Women's Soccer Team, Jackie Molinda (Mt. Lebanon High School), who joins Schram at Penn State, and Amanda Hill (Trinity High School), a freshman at West Virginia University this fall.
Schram and the U.S. team open play on August 20 against Ghana in Group D at the Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium, in Hiroshima.
For more information about the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, go to http://www.ussoccer.com.
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