The USA has launched it’s roster for the upcoming 2023 NORCA Girls’s Handball Championship that begins this Monday, in Nuuk, Greenland. The USA will face off towards Greenland, Cuba, Canada and Mexico and the winner of the event will qualify for the 2023 IHF Girls’s World Champions this December in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Right here’s the roster from youngest to oldest
Not like the U.S. males, the U.S. ladies’s roster is extra evenly break up between People who first performed the game stateside (11) vs one other nation (7). And, remarkably (for this previous timer, anyway) 3 of these athletes are Juniors that first performed the sport in Mexico. This could have been inconceivable not too way back and it speaks properly of the event of the game in that nation.
Right here’s a schematic of how the the workforce may setup on offense. I say “may” as a result of there’s some guesswork concerned.
Goalkeeper: Sophie Fasold performs for Vfl Oldenburg in Germany’s prime division and is the clear #1 GK. Wheeler and Malysz will possible alternate as her backup.
Left wing: Julia Taylor and Maria Vallone are each skilled veterans and can in all probability share time. Vallone had an ACL harm and this shall be her first official competitors because the 2019 PANAM Video games. In the meantime, Taylor has typically been pressed into the backcourt for the U.S. the place she has been a bit out of place so she could also be trying ahead to a event the place she primarily performs on the wing. It’ll even be fascinating to see how newcomer, Ariane Clerc performs after a season enjoying for Reims-Champagne in France.
Left Again: Very long time veteran Kathy Darling can nonetheless be an imposing drive within the backcourt, however at 41 years of age 4 video games of spherical robin play in 5 days could also be an actual check of stamina. Zarinna Monroy represented the U.S. on the 2022 Jr World Championships and also will possible see time at left again.
Heart Again: Quite a lot of guesswork right here, however I think Daisy Licea could also be the best choice for the U.S. at middle again. Final 12 months enjoying for the Jr Girls’s workforce she was at instances the important thing participant due to a mix of quickness and aggressive play to get the ball shifting and the protection out of their consolation zone
Proper Again: Extra guesswork… Liz Hartnett will play right here and I received’t be shocked if Ashley Butler additionally sees vital minutes. Butler, nevertheless, is an enormous query mark as she hasn’t performed for the U.S. because the 2019 PANAM Video games.
The Unknown Backcourts: I do know subsequent to nothing about these three athletes: Laisha Martinez, Cedar Bellows and Katie Timmerman. Martinez performs in Mexico, Bellows has represented the U.S. in Seaside Handball and Timmerman just lately accomplished her collegiate basketball profession at D2 Concordia College, Irvine.
Proper Wing: Butler and Cangas-Perez ought to share time right here. Cangas-Perez, is initially from Cuba and performed for the Inter Miami membership workforce and Rogue in USA membership competitions.
Circle Runner: Sarah Gascon is the veteran right here and the opposite choices are relative newcomers, Payton McCarthy and Taylee Tellechea. McCarthy performs for Ohio St and having performed pivot for a short while I used to be impressed together with her play in school nationals. Tellechea has beforehand represented the U.S. in seashore handball, however is fairly new to indoor handball.
Outlook
The U.S. Girls’s Sr Nationwide Staff has not had a lot success of late because it hasn’t received a match in official competitors because the 2019 PANAM Video games. A part of the blame will be laid on COVID and restricted alternatives to play, however essentially the U.S. has a really small pool of athletes to attract upon. And, by small we’re speaking lower than 150 U.S. Passport holding handball enjoying athletes world-wide.
Primarily based on current outcomes (a two match collection versus Canada final November) and a winless 2021 NORCA Championship the U.S. appears prone to go winless once more and place fifth on this 5 workforce competitors. That mentioned, matches are selected the courtroom. Not on paper, primarily based on previous consequence. The U.S. has additionally had a number of coaching camps, have added some new gamers and the hole in expertise to sides like Canada and Mexico shouldn’t be overwhelming. If the U.S. can get some productive scoring from its backcourt gamers and play robust on protection wins towards these groups are doable and could be a great signal of progress.
By way of the general event I think it can come all the way down to the hosts, Greenland, and Cuba going through off within the Gold medal match with a World Championship berth on the road. Primarily based on the 2018 Males’s PATHF Bronze Medal Match additionally held in Nuuk, additionally with a World Championship berth on the road that must be one thing to see with a full home of followers cheering on the house workforce.
