Haley Hanson stood on a practice field in Florida this week, hoping to prove she belonged in the United States women’s national soccer team camp. But she was admittedly a bit awestruck by her surroundings.
Behind her was captain Becky Sauerbrunn, a World Cup veteran who joined the U.S. youth national team before her 14th birthday. In front of her was Carli Lloyd, a two-time FIFA player of the year who has been representing her country on the soccer field for 15 years.
Hanson, a former midfielder at Olathe East, took a bit of a different route.