Orlando City Youth Soccer is proud to announce that Amanda “Mandy” McGlynn, a member of the U16 Girls ECNL team has been invited to the U.S. Women’s U18 National Team camp this month. Mandy currently plays for the JFC U16 Girl’s team and is a discovery player for the OCYS ECNL program. Her current JFC team just won the US Youth Soccer National Championships, and Mandy won the “Golden Gloves” award for top goalkeeper in the tournament. The week long National team camp is currently underway and will conclude on September 20th.
Upon hearing the news of being called-up, McGlynn was thrilled.
“I am so excited to have this opportunity to represent the USA at a National Team camp,” said McGlynn. “When I got the email, I cried because I was so happy. Although I’ve never even made ODP, I kept working hard and now I am going to get my shot at impressing the coaching staff of the U18 USWNT. It’s an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to get out there. I am lucky to be a part of two great programs in Orlando City and JFC.”
The U16 ECNL player also credited her goalkeeper coach, Chris Barocas, who played a major role in her move to Orlando City.
“One of the main reasons I chose to come to Orlando City is my goalkeeper coach, Chris Barocas,” said McGlynn. “We have been working together since I was 12, and he helped me so much. It is hard to think of working with another goalkeeper coach. The opportunity to play ECNL is very important to me; it’s the highest level of girls soccer in the country and I look forward to representing the club.”
ECNL director Alan Hough spoke very highly of McGlynn.
“Mandy has a very good pedigree and I am confident that she will do well at the camp,” said Hough. “She played at a very high level for many years, winning several regional premier leagues, back-to-back state championships, and most recently a national championship. She knows how to compete at a high level and it made sense for Mandy to be a part of our ECNL program because it will help her reach her future goals in college.”
McGlynn’s goalkeeping coach, Chris Barocas, said she has matured a lot over the years and now is her time to shine.
“I have coached Mandy over the last four years and she has greatly matured. She is finally getting the chance to show how good she really is,” said Barocas. “She understands the game and is as competitive as any player I have worked with, having led her team to a state championship two years in a row. I was thrilled when I learned she will be playing for our ECNL program and I look forward to see what the next year has for her.”
