During their hectic past several months, chances are that Kate Bennett and Kelyn Rowe crossed paths in a crowded airport somewhere. Bleary-eyed yet excited, the two soccer stars could trade some interesting stories about where they’ve been, and where they’re going.

 

Local sensations who have turned into globe-trotting stars, Bennett and Rowe lead a contingent of six Crossfire Premier players taking on prominent roles on prestigious national soccer teams. Bennett, a Bellevue High School junior, is on the U.S. U17 World Cup Team that won the CONCACAF Championships in Trinidad and placed second to North Korea in the World Cup in New Zealand. Rowe, a Federal Way junior who has committed to play at UCLA, plays with the U18 U.S. National Team and competed in a tournament in Uruguay.

 

Joining Rowe on the U18 National Team is Crossfire teammate Anthony Arena, who scored his first international goal in a 1-0 win over Paraguay.

 

Other Crossfire players making impacts in international play are Spencer Richey, who is in the U17 U.S. National Team Residency Program; Isabel Farrell, who is on the U15 U.S. National Team; and Laura Hernandez, who is playing for the U17 Colombian World Cup Team. Also invited into U.S. National Team training camps in the past were Dillon Saffle and Emily Hurd.

 

All of the players have incredibly bright futures and give great credit to their Crossfire experience.

 

“For me, playing for Crossfire has prepared and allowed me to play with and against some of the best players in the country,” Rowe said. “My teammates, and the competition I get from them in training, and the level of competition we face in all our games made me raise my level and speed of play to be noticed.

 

“Our team is put in front of college and national team coaches and scouts year-round, and the Crossfire coaches have helped me get to the national level through their knowledge of what was being asked for -- making sure I improved my skills and knowledge -- and for their reputations throughout the college and the national level for being able to produce players that they want.”

 

Bennett credits Crossfire’s infrastructure for helping her succeed.

 

 

"Crossfire Premier helped prepare me for the national team program by giving me support from my teammates and coaches,” Bennett said. “Also, by being flexible to give a variety of training with different teams."

 

The intensity of Bennett’s training picked up considerably when she left the Bellevue High team in midseason so that she could train with the boys team at the Crossfire Premier Academy. That prepared her well for the national team camp, and she was selected for the World Cup team.

 

Hoping to follow in Bennett’s footsteps is Farrell, who was invited to the U.S. National U17 and U15 Super Camp in Sunrise, Fla. That puts the midfielder from Bellevue among a group being considered for the team that will play in the U17 World Cup 2010 in Trinidad & Tobago. Farrell made her mark on the national stage in a big way in 2008 when she scored a goal in every match at the ODP National Camp in Pomona, Calif., and was easily selected to the U14 National Team.

 

Richey, a goalie from Seattle who trains in the Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., has seen action against the nation’s best players and against several MLS teams. He is part of a program that has produced Freddy Adu, Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson and others. Richey’s departure for the program marks the sixth year in a row that Crossfire has been represented in Bradenton, the longest streak for any club in the U.S.

 

“We agreed it has been an amazing time with an exceptional club – Crossfire,” said Richey’s father, Bill. “To play with such terrific players, and have great coaching combined with playing the best competition in the country has culminated with this invitation. … In talking to the National Team coaches, their respect for and the stature of Crossfire was very evident.”

 

Rowe’s trip to South America will stick with him forever.

 

“The feeling of putting on the USA jersey and standing on the field hearing your national anthem was just incredible,” he said. “The trip was like nothing I have experienced before. It really opened my eyes about the level of soccer I will have to play at to be able to participate and be successful at the highest level.”