CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Citadel freshmen soccer players Vanessa Aponte and Mariana Garcia have been invited to attend training camp with the Colombian Women's National team May 4-14 as they prepare for their first-ever appearance in the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011. The final team of 22 will compete in Germany during the week of June 26 - July 17.
Aponte, a forward/midfielder from Orlando, Fla., was a member of the FIFA World Cup Women's Colombian U-20 National team during the summer of 2010. She saw 76 minutes of action in two matches played. While in a Bulldog uniform Aponte played in 19 matches with 17 starts and finished first on the team in assists with five, tied for second in points with 15 and second on the team in shots with 52, and shots on goal with 20. She also finished the season with two game winning goals including the penalty kick that advanced The Citadel to the semifinals in their first-ever appearance into the Southern Conference Championship Tournament. For her golden goal, Aponte was named the CS360 Primetime Performer of the Week.
Garcia, a Bogota, Colombia, native started in all 21 games for the Bulldogs finished the season leading the team in nearly every offensive category including goals scored with 10, points with 21, shots with 53, shots on goal with 32 and game-winning shots with five. She also finished the 2010 season leading the SoCon in game-winning shots and tied for first with goals scored. For her on the field efforts Garcia was tabbed the league Player and Freshman of the Year, a first team All-Conference recipient and a member of the All-Freshmen squad. She was listed by TopDrawerSoccer.com top-100 freshmen to watch list and was ranked as high as No. 2 on the top-20 in the SoCon. Garcia was named to the 2010 NSCAA/Performance Subaru NCAA Division I Women All-Southeast Region Second Team as well as the 2010 Soccer America All-Freshman Second Team.
As a part of group C, Colombia will open the World Cup against Sweden on June 28 at 3 p.m.in Leverkusen, Germany.