Following three days of training at the 2018 United States Women’s National Team Trial held at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, PA, the USWNT coaching staff announced the 2018 U.S. Women’s National Development Squad on Friday afternoon.
Among the 21 selections was Hamburg graduate Karlie Heistand, chosen among a pool of athletes from around the nation.
“It was hard to make the final selection for the Development Team but I am convinced the selected group is very competitive,” said USWNT head coach Janneke Schopman. “I am excited for them to get started and am looking forward to seeing the players’ growth in the next few months.”
With potential promising, the U.S. Women’s National Development Squad accounts for the transitional phase between the U-21 USWNT and the senior USWNT. Many of the trial attendees recently completed their final collegiate season and no longer are permitted to be on the junior team due to age restrictions.
Heistand, a biochemistry major at UConn, has started in every game for the Huskies in each of the past three seasons. As a junior last season, she was named to the All-Big East and the All-Mideast Region Second Team as she recorded three goals and three assists on the year.
During her sophomore campaign, Heistand scored a goal in the Big East Championship game against Temple, that after scoring her first career goal against Villanova earlier in the season.
Heistand was a standout during her scholastic career at Hamburg, in which she competed in four sports. A four-year starter with the Hawks field hockey team, she was named the Team MVP all four seasons. During her final two seasons, she scored a combined 47 goals and registered 29 assists en route to two All-State selections and a Regional All-American honor as a senior. Heistand finished her career with 73 goals and 58 assists, and was eventually named as a member of the U.S. Women’s U-19 National Team.
This year’s USWNT Development Squad has a busy beginning part of the year. This includes four training camps, either in Pennsylvania or Virginia, as they prepare for a tour to Chile from May 15-24. Following that trip, athletes will be reevaluated and, if ready, called up to the senior team starting in September.
