Vivian Vega Invited to Train with the U-20 Mexican National Team in Preparation for U-20 World Cup
Vivian Vega 2015 Highlights
TIJUANA, Mexico – UAlbany women's soccer forward Vivian Vega has been invited to tryout and compete with the U-20 Mexican National Team in preparation for the 2015 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship in December.
Vega, a California native with Mexican heritage and dual citizenship, will head to the CAR Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Tijuana, Mexico to train with the U-20 team from October 19th through the 23rd. These tryouts are run by the Mexican National Federation in preparation for the U-20 World Cup.
“I feel very grateful for getting this opportunity to represent not only my country, but my team, my school and family,” said Vega. “I'm happy to see that my hard work is paying off.”
Vega received her invitation to train with the team from the coaching staff of the Mexican Soccer Federation.
If chosen to the team, Vega will play with the U-20 Mexican National Team in the 2015 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, held in Honduras from December 3-13th. Mexico, the runner-up of this tournament in 2014, will play the U-20 teams of the United States, Canada and others in an eight-team field. Vega formerly competed with the U17 Mexican National Team.
The winner of this CONCACAF tournament automatically qualifies for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.
Vega was the 2014 America East Rookie of the Year and is UAlbany's leading goal-scorer with six this season, netting 15 goals and five assists in her collegiate career thus far.
“I am excited and proud that Vivian is being recognized by the Mexican National Team Staff as one of the best players in the U20 age group,” said UAlbany head coach Caitlin Cucchiella. “To have the opportunity to possibly compete in a World Cup at any age is simply amazing! We at UAlbany wish her all the best.”
Vega was part of Cucchiella's first full recruiting class at UAlbany and is the first national team player that UAlbany women's soccer has ever had. If Vega makes the World Cup final roster, she will also be the first.
Vega and the Great Danes will take on Hartford on Thursday, October 15th at 7 p.m. at Casey Stadium.
