BY PETE MOHR | JULY 21, 2010

Cassie Miller to U17 National Team!

“I was just about the happiest girl in the world!” That’s how Cassie Miller described to Sonoran News her reaction when Sereno Soccer Club Coach Sandy Davison announced on June 25, 2010 that Miller had been called up to the U17 U.S. Women’s National Team.

Among the four players “promoted” to the U17 squad, Miller was the only goalkeeper. One week later, Miller joined the team for the Swissair flight from Newark, New Jersey to Copenhagen. Pretty heady stuff for a young lady who won’t turn 16 until April 28, 2011!

Cassie played the last 10 minutes in the 6-0 opening win against The Netherlands; “sat” in the 3-0 shutout of Denmark; played the full game in the 2-1 edging of Norway; but did not see action in the team’s 2-0 blanking of Germany. Undefeated! Thirteen goals for; only one against. Dominance!

“I really learned a lot from the higher level of competition; watching Kaitlin (Rowland, the starter from California); and practicing every day with her under Assistant Coach Amy Griffin.” No time for sight-seeing; but Miller raved about the Danish bread: “Huge loaves! Little rolls … breakfast breads … the best breads I’ve ever had!” This writer is pleased that the modest Cassie can still enthuse like the teenager she is.

What’s next for “El Gato?” A U15 Competition Camp in Florida (late August) and the “outside possibility” of a second U17 call-up, this time to China.

“All of the above” is good news. The negative report is that Miller’s commitment to Sereno’s tournament schedule (she’s their only goalkeeper) and her availability for U15 and U17 play will likely rule out any realistic possibility that she can be in goal for the Lady Falcons in the upcoming 2010-2011 season. Not to worry, Cassie: Foothills soccer fans will be pulling for you, anyway!