Cards Called Up -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Bard, Cantu Earn USWNT Attention

Louisville women's soccer saw two players invited to camp with the US Women's National Team youth programs this month, with announcements coming yesterday. Rising sophomore Ella Bard and incoming freshman Cate Cantu heard their names called as they'll join camps for the U-20 and U-18 teams, respectively. Bard will camp in Kansas City 4/7-4/16 with two opportunities to play against Brazil on 4/11 and 4/15. Cantu will camp in West Palm Beach 4/10-4/17. No international friendlies are listed for that one. 

Ella Bard's call-up to the U-20 team indicates that she has impressed the USWNT staff so far in her development. Bard was called up to the U-19 team in October, missing time with UofL to take part in friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Portugal. In February, she joined that team again to play against Czechia, Wales, and Portugal. This time, an invite to U-20 camp means that Bard is a serious contender to be a part of the team which will participate in the Women's U-20 World Cup in Poland in September. A call up in that window would surely be difficult for the Cards in the early season, as Bard figures to move into a full-time starting role on defense, but the experience she could gain would be unmatched.

Cate Cantu is a name that is likely more unknown to Louisville fans. While Bard made a quick name for herself as a freshman last season, making her debut in the Vanderbilt game and earning her first start against Wright State, Cantu hasn't yet made it to campus. Cantu is an incoming goalkeeper, which is a position you might remember as recently vacated. (Happy belated birthday to the new Racing Louisville keeper, Erynn Floyd, by the way.) Cate has the opportunity to claim that position right out of the gate. If she does so, she could become the third straight long-term starter to claim the job as a freshman, following Floyd and Gabby Kouzelos. Cantu was a three-time All Central League First Team selection in Pennsylvania, and she was a High School All-American as a senior. Her club team, Penn Fusion, were ECNL National Champions in 2024. Cantu will be competing for the starting spot against Brielle Baker, who is the only returning goalkeeper from last season's roster.

While players missing time is difficult for a college team, the opportunity to play for your country are invaluable for both the player and the team. Players get the chance to fulfill lifelong dreams and play against some of the top competition the world has to offer. Teams get to reap the benefits of the additional experiences the players gain as well as show recruits how much they support player development. We see the same with Jeff Walz and basketball all the time. Showing recruits that you're not just going to make them good enough to play for their national team, but that you will also give them the freedom to make the most of those opportunities, is quite enticing. 

All the best to Ella and Cate in the coming weeks. 

Until next time, Go Cards!

Case

images from @louisvillewsoc on Instagram