Schnur remains in the mix
“See ya in December.”
Those were encouraging words to Meghan Schnur, since they came from U.S. women’s national soccer team head coach Pia Sundhage.
The coach Sundhage was referring to the next scheduled national women’s soccer team camp, slated next month in Los Angeles.
Schnur, a Butler graduate and former soccer All-American at the University of Connecticut, wasn’t among the 24 players selected by Sundhage to compete against Italy this month in a two-game series to determine the final berth for the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
“I didn’t figure on being selected since I got hurt at a recent camp and missed November’s,” Schnur said. “You have to be invited to the national camp, so I was happy to hear Pia tell me she’ll see me then.
“I’m assuming that means I’ll be invited. I hope so,” she added.
Schnur, 25, suffered a hip flexor that denied her a chance to compete at the last national camp. She said the injury has healed and she’s back in training.
About 30 players compete at the monthly national camps and players are evaluated constantly.
Sundhage eventually will select the U.S. World Cup roster, provided the Americans outscore Italy in games Saturday in Padova, Italy, and Nov. 27 in Bridgeview, Ill.
“You always want to be out there in games that are meaningful,” Schnur said. “”Obviously, those two games are huge for U.S. women’s soccer. But all I can do is root for the girls and hope for the best.
“There are plenty of opportunities to make the World Cup roster, since it doesn’t happen until next summer. But our team has to get there first,” she added.
Besides trying to stay in the hunt for a national roster spot, Schnur is looking for a new home in professional soccer as well. She is a free agent after spending two seasons with Sky Blue FC (New Jersey) in the WPS.
Because defending league champion FC Gold Pride, based in California, isn’t returning to the WPS, all of its players are free agents.
The league has six confirmed teams for 2011 — Atlanta, Boston, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and an expansion franchise based in western New York — with Chicago having until Dec. 15 to declare its status.
“I’m confident I’ll wind up somewhere,” Schnur said. “Sky Blue has a new coach, the league has a new team ... I’m weighing the situation and want to find the right fit.”
Formerly a midfielder, Schnur was switched to defender by Sky Blue last year. She played every minute of all 20 games in Sky Blue’s 2009 league championship run.
Schnur is being used on defense at the national team camps as well. She scored 55 goals and had 55 assists at Butler, adding 28 goals and 20 assists at UConn as a midfielder.
“I’m comfortable back there now and I’m still confident about my soccer future,” she said. “I’m pretty confident I’ll be playing somewhere come March.”
