When Mandy McGlynn and Brooke Bollinger watched the U-20 WNT play against Bayern Munich they weren’t just envisioning themselves in that role in a few years, they were supporting a good friend. Rose Chandler, who was part of the U20’s roster this summer in the U-20 Women’s World Cup, has been a big sister of sorts to McGlynn and Bollinger, who are both part of U.S. Soccer’s Women’s Youth National team pools.
However, the national team is not the only bond they share. They all work with Chris Barocas, Orlando City Youth Soccer’s Director of Goalkeeping, who has created a pipeline to the youth national teams over the years with some of his goalkeeping prodigies. All three goalkeepers have also spent time with Philip Poole early in their national team careers, which is important to note due to the friendship shared between Poole and Barocas.
“I love talking with Brooke and Mandy because I remember what it was like for me when I was there age,” said Rose. I can reflect on my experiences at that level and guide them through things when they are having a tough time. My relationship with them is special because I’m not just teaching them, they teach me as well. In regards to training with Chris, anytime I get the chance to work with him I will. I would fly down often to Jacksonville last spring to work with him, and it always prepared me well for camps. I give him a big thanks because I know I wouldn't be in this situation without his coaching and guidance.”
“Rose is like a big sister, I used to watch her when I was younger and thought about how much I wanted to be just like her,” said McGlynn. All three of us have a bond with each other that will keep us close for years. We are all friends and training with each other makes us better. When we train with Chris he does not take it easy on us at all. I could not be in the position I am now with my playing career without Chris, he demands a lot. He constantly tries to help me with recruiting, and I felt quite comfortable going into my first (national team) camp because he had the experience getting Brooke and Rose ready for their camps. It’s a pretty easy transition from him to the national team coaches. I can’t wait to get to camp on February 1st and show the staff how much I have improved.”
“Rose helped me greatly as a mentor during the beginning stages of my national team experiences,” said Bollinger. Mandy is great to work with on a regular basis, because she is a very talented Goalkeeper. She really pushes me in training and I love to compete against her in training sessions. I started working with Coach Barocas about two years ago, and it was a huge step forward from where I had been before. He put me in a session with Rose and I felt like I learned so much from both of them in just one session. I knew that was the type of training I needed to get to the level where I would be excelling going in future camps.”
“It's has been great to see such an exciting, capable, and well prepared group of goalkeepers emerge out the Florida region over the past couple of years,” said Poole. It is vital that we continue to tap into Florida's strong talent. Chris has been ultra-supportive in our development efforts with these young ‘keeper's. I feel very comfortable to ask his opinion regarding goalkeeper we identify in that region. I think he's doing a wonderful job.”
