The Long Island Junior Soccer League has announced that three of its players are competing internationally for the U.S. Girls Under 15 Developmental Team. They represent the best of the United States in that age group.

Alaina Beyer and Alyssa Pember play for the Albertson 89 Fury while Katy Nagy is on the East Meadow Dynamite.

"Beyer is a fantastic forward. Great speed, superb at beating defenders and very crafty around the net," stated Fury coach Paul Riley. "She puts defenders under great pressure, keeps them uncomfortable and pounces on any mistake. Exciting to watch, prolific around the penalty area and a player who works at her game day-in and day-out."

"Pember is an excellent defender. Great tackler, tremendous understanding of the game and a real presence on any field," Riley commented. "She is very poised on the ball, consistent in her performance and very rarely makes a mistake. Great training habits, aggressive attitude to one-on-one defending and a brilliant leader."

"Katy Nagy is one of my favorite subjects. She has been a part of my life and the East Meadow Dynamite for six years now," commented East Meadow Dynamite coach Lance Liebhaber. "She is a wonderful, intelligent, hard working, extremely focused and driven young lady. She has been the captain of our Premier team and leader by word and deed over the past years. As a central midfielder, Katy is not only physically gifted, but she is fearless and a tireless worker. Long ago, she set a goal for herself to make the National Team and to play up to level of her longtime idol Michelle Akers. She has accomplished all her goals thus far and I have no reason to believe she will not make it to the National Team."

Congratulations to Albertson Red Storm Clash defender Pavelid Castaneda, who has been named to the U.S. Boys Under 18 team that will participate at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland from Aug. 1 to 5.

Castaneda and his Clash teammates were State Cup champions at the Boys Under 18 level, losing in the Region 1 finals.

The U.S. will take on Brazil in its opening match on Aug. 1 before facing Cameroon two days later.

Depending on the team's showing against their two opponents, the red, white and blue will play in either the championship game or third- place match against one of the other three teams on Aug. 5.

Castaneda will be a freshman at Duke this fall and received the LIJSL's $1,000 Peter Collins Scholarship last week in a ceremony with the former league President. Castaneda is a native of Colombia who wrote in his essay that soccer helped him fit in at school and make friends.