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Seton Hall signee Eva Gonzalez has stepped onto the international stage after being called to the Mexico U-20 side while currently participating in the 2015 U-20 Women's NTC Invitational hosted by U.S. Soccer at the National Training Center in California.
“Being able to play soccer at an international level has been amazing and it’s such a
blessing because I know there are so many other talented players who would love to be in my shoes,” Gonzalez told The Setonian. “At this level, I get to see how other countries play soccer and I think that is by far my favorite part about it even though traveling the world is pretty amazing.”
The round-robin tournament includes Japan, Brazil, Mexico and the United States. Each of these premier sides will play against one another between June 2 and June 5. The winner is decided by total points with the primary tiebreaker being goal differential, followed by total goals scored.
Gonzalez started for Mexico in the first round of action, but her team fell to Brazil, 1-0.
Gonzalez has grown familiar to representing Mexico at the highest level of international competition. She was one of the stars for the U-17 team during an undefeated run at the 2013 CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Gold Cup. Gonzalez then followed up that title-winning performance by leading Mexico to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica back in 2014.
Gonzalez, a Texas native, is coming off a prep campaign in which she led
year, she racked up over 40 assists and 60 points.
Bishop Lynch to the
Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Division I state title this spring. In her senior
Coach Rick Stainton, heading into his second year with Seton Hall, praised Gonzalez’s on-field
creativity, which will come in handy for the Pirates next season.
"Eva is a very dynamic, creative presence at the center midfield position,” Stainton told Seton
Hall Athletics. “She is an excellent distributor of the ball and will help orchestrate the attack. She
obviously comes in with a long list of accomplishments, but more importantly, she's someone
who is driven to improve and contribute."
Gonzalez still has two months until she steps on the field for the Pirates, but it is something she
is excited to do.
“I am most looking forward to actually stepping onto the field with a group of girls that I know I will become so close with,” Gonzalez said. “I am most looking forward to the new family and home I will have at Seton Hall.”
Olivia Mulvihill can be reached at olivia.mulvihill@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @OliviaMulvihill.
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