Jan. 14, 2009

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Former Illinois forward Ella Masar has been invited to participate in the U.S. Women's National Team 17-day training camp that will kick off the team's 2009 activity. The U.S. team will convene at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., from Jan. 20-Feb. 4 in preparation for the annual Algarve Cup that will be held from March 4-11 in southern Portugal.

Masar has been a key member of the U.S. U-23 Women's National Team for the past two years, earning eight caps while leading the U.S. to Nordic Cup titles in Finland and Sweden. She also was recently selected ninth overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the Women's Professional Soccer draft. The Urbana, Ill., native will now have a chance to showcase her talent at the highest level as she will attend camp with several players from the 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning team.

Masar replaces forward Lauren Cheney who had to withdraw from camp due to academic commitments at UCLA. After the completion of the camp, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage will choose 18 players from the roster of 25 to make the annual pilgrimage to Portugal for the always competitive Algarve Cup, where the USA will face Denmark, Norway and Iceland in first round play. Germany, Sweden, Finland and China fill out the other group. It will be the 14th trip to the prestigious tournament for the U.S. WNT.