Photo by: Mike Greening
Orejel Named To Mexico Women's National Team
March 30, 2018 | Soccer
BOULDER – Colorado soccer player Joss Orejel has been named to the Mexico Women's National Team for upcoming friendlies vs. the United States. This is her first call-up to the full national team after being a part of Mexico's youth national program.
Orejel is the second Buffs player to earn a call-up to a full national team in the past year, joining Marty Puketapu, who competed against the United States in September for her home country of New Zealand. Puketapu was a freshman for the Buffs in 2017.
Orejel completed her senior season in Boulder last fall. In her four years with the Buffs, she started 57 matches as a left-outside back and totaled 14 assists and two goals. She finished her career ranked fifth all-time in assists, including the most ever for a defender. She was also a second-team All-West Region selection by the United Soccer Coaches in 2017.
This will be the third level of Mexico's National Team that Orejel has participated in. In 2012, she started three matches in the U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup. She also participated at the U-20 level, but missed the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup as she chose to compete with CU during a postseason run as the World Cup conflicted with the NCAA Tournament.
Against the U.S., she will be one of nine defenders on the roster for El Tri. The friendlies will take place April 5 in Jacksonville, Fla., and April 8 in Houston.
Orejel is a native of Tustin, Calif., but her parents were born in Mexico and have dual citizenship, allowing her to compete for her parents' home country at the international level. She is on track to graduate this year with her bachelor's degree in advertising and a minor in Spanish.
She also recently signed her first contract to compete after CU. She will play for LA Galaxy OC in the United Women's Soccer League. This will be LAGOC's inaugural season in the league, which was formed in 2015 as a step between collegiate soccer and the NWSL.
She joins several other Buffs who have recently competed internationally. In addition to Puketapu, junior-to-be Taylor Kornieck is set to play for the U-20 United States Women's National Team in early April in a friendly tournament in Spain. Sophomore Hannah Cardenas recently returned from the U-18 USWNT after competing in Spain in the Women's U-19 La Manga 12 Nations Tournament.
Orejel is the second Buffs player to earn a call-up to a full national team in the past year, joining Marty Puketapu, who competed against the United States in September for her home country of New Zealand. Puketapu was a freshman for the Buffs in 2017.
Orejel completed her senior season in Boulder last fall. In her four years with the Buffs, she started 57 matches as a left-outside back and totaled 14 assists and two goals. She finished her career ranked fifth all-time in assists, including the most ever for a defender. She was also a second-team All-West Region selection by the United Soccer Coaches in 2017.
This will be the third level of Mexico's National Team that Orejel has participated in. In 2012, she started three matches in the U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup. She also participated at the U-20 level, but missed the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup as she chose to compete with CU during a postseason run as the World Cup conflicted with the NCAA Tournament.
Against the U.S., she will be one of nine defenders on the roster for El Tri. The friendlies will take place April 5 in Jacksonville, Fla., and April 8 in Houston.
Orejel is a native of Tustin, Calif., but her parents were born in Mexico and have dual citizenship, allowing her to compete for her parents' home country at the international level. She is on track to graduate this year with her bachelor's degree in advertising and a minor in Spanish.
She also recently signed her first contract to compete after CU. She will play for LA Galaxy OC in the United Women's Soccer League. This will be LAGOC's inaugural season in the league, which was formed in 2015 as a step between collegiate soccer and the NWSL.
She joins several other Buffs who have recently competed internationally. In addition to Puketapu, junior-to-be Taylor Kornieck is set to play for the U-20 United States Women's National Team in early April in a friendly tournament in Spain. Sophomore Hannah Cardenas recently returned from the U-18 USWNT after competing in Spain in the Women's U-19 La Manga 12 Nations Tournament.
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