While the fall soccer season is still over a month away for the ASU Sun Devils, two of Coach Ray Leone's freshman recruits are busy showing off their much-heralded soccer skills for another Leone – as in the Under-19 Women's National coach Tracey Leone, who just Happens to be the ASU coach's wife.
Freshman defender Stephanie Ebner and midfielder Manya Makoski are both currently in the midst of a 13-day training camp San Diego designed to help Leone pick the 18-woman roster for the 2002 FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship. The tournament, to be held in Canada from Aug. 17 – Sept. 1, will see the Americans match up against England, Australia and Chinese Taipei (otherwise known as Taiwan) in the first round.
"This camp serves as one last evaluation of our pool before we pick our 18 players and alternates for Canada," Leone said in a prepared statement. "It also gives us one more chance to prepare the team and make sure we're tidy and sharp in all key areas."
Both Ebner and Makoski are slated to begin their collegiate soccer campaigns at ASU when the Sun Devils kick off the 2002 season against Pepperdine on Aug 30. The 5 foot, 4 inch Ebner, who was a member of the 2001 squad, was a 2000 Parade All-American at Taylorsville High School in Taylorsville, Utah. Makoski made the Parade list this year as well as being named the 2002 Gatorade Connecticut High School Player of the Year as well as the 2001 Adidas Connecticut High School Player of the Year in 2001.
Reach the reporter at al.stevens@asu.edu.
