Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Brendan Maloney
Orejel Signs With Pro Team In France, Named To Mexico Women's National Team
July 11, 2018 | Soccer
BOULDER – Former Colorado soccer player Joss Orejel has had two major milestones in her post-CU career over the past week. The 2018 graduate signed her first international professional contract and was named to the Mexico Women's National Team roster for an upcoming tournament.
Orejel has signed to play for CSFA Ambilly Féminin FC, a second-division French club located in Ambilly in Haute-Savoie. The team will begin its season late this summer with preseason camp starting July 30. She was also on the roster and trained with LA Galaxy OC in the United Women's Soccer League earlier this spring, but was unable to compete in a match.
Orejel will join her French club after the start of preseason camp because she was named to Mexico's Women's National Team's roster for the upcoming 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. The tournament will take place in Barranquilla, Colombia, from July 19-30. Mexico will compete in Group B against Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Nicaragua. The top two teams from Group A and Group B will advance to the semifinals on July 27, with the final and third-place matches taking place on July 30.
This is Orejel's second stint on the Mexico Women's National Team after being named to the roster for two friendlies against the United States in April.
"I'm looking forward to adapting to another team and improving as a player," Orejel said of signing with CSFA Ambilly. "And some goals I have are to keep getting called into the national team and qualifying for a World Cup."
A four-year letterwinner with the Buffs, Orejel was a standout in Boulder as the team's starting left back for the past four seasons. She started 57 matches 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.
Orejel is now among four former CU soccer players to compete professionally in the past year.
Danica Evans currently plays for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL and has appeared in four matches this season as the backup striker to international stars Marta, Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux. Last season, she scored one goal in 12 appearances for the Pride after being a third-round draft pick in 2017.
Kahlia Hogg completed her second professional season this past spring in the top league in Australia. She appeared in 11 of the team's 12 matches and made seven starts for the Western Sydney Wanderers, and had one assist during the 2017-18 season.
Becca Rasmussen was a second-round draft pick by the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL this past January, but has since retired from soccer.
Orejel is also among several Buffs who have recently competed internationally. Sophomore Marty Puketapu is currently a member of the New Zealand Women's National Team and has appeared in four matches for the Ferns, including against the USWNT in a friendly last fall. Junior Taylor Kornieck and sophomore Hannah Cardenas have also been a part of the United States Youth National Teams in the past year, competing for the U-18, U-19 and U-20 teams.
Orejel has signed to play for CSFA Ambilly Féminin FC, a second-division French club located in Ambilly in Haute-Savoie. The team will begin its season late this summer with preseason camp starting July 30. She was also on the roster and trained with LA Galaxy OC in the United Women's Soccer League earlier this spring, but was unable to compete in a match.
Orejel will join her French club after the start of preseason camp because she was named to Mexico's Women's National Team's roster for the upcoming 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. The tournament will take place in Barranquilla, Colombia, from July 19-30. Mexico will compete in Group B against Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Nicaragua. The top two teams from Group A and Group B will advance to the semifinals on July 27, with the final and third-place matches taking place on July 30.
This is Orejel's second stint on the Mexico Women's National Team after being named to the roster for two friendlies against the United States in April.
"I'm looking forward to adapting to another team and improving as a player," Orejel said of signing with CSFA Ambilly. "And some goals I have are to keep getting called into the national team and qualifying for a World Cup."
A four-year letterwinner with the Buffs, Orejel was a standout in Boulder as the team's starting left back for the past four seasons. She started 57 matches 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.
Orejel is now among four former CU soccer players to compete professionally in the past year.
Danica Evans currently plays for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL and has appeared in four matches this season as the backup striker to international stars Marta, Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux. Last season, she scored one goal in 12 appearances for the Pride after being a third-round draft pick in 2017.
Kahlia Hogg completed her second professional season this past spring in the top league in Australia. She appeared in 11 of the team's 12 matches and made seven starts for the Western Sydney Wanderers, and had one assist during the 2017-18 season.
Becca Rasmussen was a second-round draft pick by the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL this past January, but has since retired from soccer.
Orejel is also among several Buffs who have recently competed internationally. Sophomore Marty Puketapu is currently a member of the New Zealand Women's National Team and has appeared in four matches for the Ferns, including against the USWNT in a friendly last fall. Junior Taylor Kornieck and sophomore Hannah Cardenas have also been a part of the United States Youth National Teams in the past year, competing for the U-18, U-19 and U-20 teams.
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