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Matches in Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico and Spain. Training sessions in New Jersey and Seattle. And a shift to online studies.
Those are several of the maneuvers goalie Peyton Trayer of Santa Margarita completed in preparing to represent the United States at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
She also trained with the under-17 national team and her Slammers club.
“She’s been very busy but is absolutely prepared,” Santa Margarita girls soccer coach Craig Bull said. “She has had a ton of preparation at the very highest level.”
The Americans open against Ecuador on Saturday at noon PST.
Trayer, a senior who is committed to reigning NCAA champion North Carolina, is one of three goalies on the U.S. squad.
The other two are Clemson commit Ella McNeal and Florida State freshman Evan O’Steen.
“I’ve been working my whole life just for these moments,” Trayer said before departing. “This past past year being able to represent the United States and wear the crest has been unreal.”
“To think that I’m going to compete in a World Cup for my country is just everything I could have dreamed of playing soccer growing and looking up to all those (players) like Alex Morgan,” she added. “It’s still the biggest honor.”
Trayer capped her training for the 24-team World Cup by playing in a 1-0 loss to host Spain in an international friendly on Oct. 12. She played the entire match and recorded two saves.
In the spring, Trayer made her debut with the under-17 team at a World Cup qualifying tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
She blocked a penalty kick in a 7-0 victory against El Salvador in the Americans’ finale on April 5.
“It was really cool to see not just mine but the whole team’s hard work (pay off),” Trayer said of the qualifier. “We put a lot of work in that tournament and also in the camps.”
Over the summer, she traveled to Kansas City, Mexico and Spain for matches.
On Aug. 1, Trayer helped Team USA capture the 4 Nations tournament by playing a 1-0 victory against Mexico in the finale.
Trayer also has trained this fall with Gotham FC and the Seattle Reign of the NWSL.
With the extensive travel and soccer commitments, Trayer transitioned this fall to online studies at Santa Margarita. She remains on track to graduate in December and enroll early at North Carolina.
Trayer is grateful for the support that she has received from Santa Margarita as she chases her soccer dreams.
“I’m playing for something bigger than me,” she said. “We’re playing for our country, which to me, means everything.”
NOTES
Santa Margarita’s Mia Corona traveled with the U.S. team to Spain for its World Cup preparation. … Sonora’s Stella Barajas and Foothill’s Vanessa Paredes are playing for Mexico, which opens against North Korea on Saturday.