BATON ROUGE — Caroline Vanderpool of the LSU women’s soccer team is headed to Vancouver, British Columbia to participate in the U20 Canadian National Team Camp.
“This is such a great honor for Caroline and we are very proud of her here at LSU,” said LSU head women’s soccer coach Brian Lee “There is no greater accomplishment than to have the opportunity to represent your country.”
Vanderpool, a native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada, has been a member of the Youth Canadian National Team for four years.
“Every camp you go to, you are not assured a spot on the team,” said Vanderpool. “So you have to go there with the mindset that you are going to come in and work so hard and just knock over everyone and run through everything as hard as you can, because you are never assured a spot on the team.”
Vanderpool will spend a week in Vancouver practicing and working out against other Canadian soccer players trying to make the team for the 2006 World Championships in Russia. The camp will be held at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.
“I am happy to be a part of the national team and it gives me some added experience, but it also comes with a lot responsibility with the LSU team,” said Vanderpool.
Vanderpool is the first national team player at LSU in the 10-year program. Vanderpool played a major part in the team last season starting in 15 games as a freshman recording a goal and two assists. The Tigers will add to the number of players with national team experience next fall when Melissa Clarke joins the squad.
Clarke, who signed with LSU earlier this month, will be the 1st U.S. Youth National Team player at LSU.