Sophomore tries out for the Women’s National Team

Shipping herself off to California for three women’s national team camps, sophomore Addison McCain will compete with 23 other girls from across the country for spots on the Under 20 Women’s World Cup Team in 2018.

McCain has already attended two of the camps and awaits the third in December.

“They are trying to find the best players in my age group to play for the under 20 World Cup in two years,” McCain said.

The camp is coached by April Hienrich, former Women’s World Cup player and captain of the 1991 U.S. team.

“The coaches really didn’t put pressure on you, the only pressure you felt was from yourself,” McCain said.

McCain began playing at age four and went club at age seven. She currently plays center midfield for the FC Dallas’ 98’ ECNL team under Head Coach Matthew Grubb.

“She is a very athletic player who is around the ball a lot. She works to win it back from the opponent and does a great job keeping it,” Grubb said.

On top of her club team and the national camps, McCain also plays for the school and hopes to make the team for the spring season.

“My favorite part is that I get an opportunity to represent my school and play for something bigger than myself,” McCain said.

Now number 18, McCain used to choose certain numbers trying to fill the cleats of the famous players whose numbers she wore.

“So one day my mom said, ‘Why don’t you pick a number so one day someone will pick it because of you?’” McCain said. “So I chose 18.”