Demirci and Collins Receive Invitations to Attend National Team Soccer Camps
April 13, 2020 | Women's Soccer
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb women's soccer players Ayse Demirci and Bella Collins have received invitations to attend their respective national team camps this summer.
Demirci has been invited to attend her country's national team camp in Turkey this summer. When asked what it meant to earn an invitation to the national team camp in Turkey she said, "I made a commitment to myself many years ago that playing for Turkey and representing my country would be my ultimate goal."
In Demiric's freshman season she played in 14 matches and recorded 284 minutes for Gardner-Webb. She attempted five shots on the season.
Having finally achieved her goal, Demirci reflected on her journey.
"For me, it all starts with the work and time you put into your craft off the field, studying the game at every opportunity and believing deep down that you can actually get to the point you have always been dreaming of," she said. "I know this is just the beginning for me, and representing Gardner-Webb's program overseas will be a true honor for me. Coach Varga has played such a big role in my development. The tougher he has been on me, the harder it has driven me to work and improve my play. I hope with this [opportunity] I can inspire other athletes to work hard and be relentless in their journey.
Teammate Bella Collins received an invitation to train with Trinidad & Tobago's national team this summer.
"I am excited and honored," Collins said. "Not all players get the opportunity, and it has been a dream of mine to represent Trinidad & Tobago at the next level."
Collins, who also wrapped up her freshman season in 2019, played in one game for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
In addition to Demirci and Collins, there are four other players on the Gardner-Webb women's soccer roster who have previously represented their respective national teams.
Paula Suarez Is represented the U17 Spanish National team that won the U17 Women's World Cup in 2018, the first women's national team from Spain to win a world cup.
When reflecting on her time winning with the Spanish National team Suarez Is said, "The moment we were on the podium receiving the medals with the cup, realizing that we had made history in our country, was an incredible and indescribable feeling."
In Suarez Is' rookie season as a goalkeeper for Gardner-Webb she played in 11 games and had ten starts, ending the season with a record of 4-6. She had an impressive .714 save percentage with 45 saves in 2019.
Vilma Rydell has taken part in Sweden's Youth National team camps. Rydell took part during the 2014-2015 season and participated in five games and camps during that season.
"Putting on the blue and yellow jersey and representing your country while doing the best thing in the world - playing soccer - is something that I will never forget," said Rydell.
Rydell also completed her freshman season at Gardner-Webb this past season, starting in all six matches that she played in for a total of 549 minutes.
Jaasiel Forde who is currently a sophomore at Gardner-Webb represented the Trinidad & Tobago U20 national team in 2015 and most recently in 2018 where Trinidad & Tobago hosted the CONCACAF U20 Women's World Cup qualifiers.
"Both times were really amazing", said Forde, who started two games against Haiti and Costa Rica. She lists her most memorable experience as "assisting on a goal as a defender in the Costa Rica match. The feeling of contributing to a goal for my country was just priceless."
During her time as a Runnin' Bulldog, Forde played in 30 total matches with 21 starts. She scored a total of three points with one goal and one assist.
Jada Newton has represented the U.S. Virgin Islands in Olympic Qualification on the National team in the fall of 2019.
"Being able to represent the USVI in Jamaica was an experience I will never forget," said Newton.
Newton, a rising junior at Gardner-Webb, has played in 30 matches for the Red and Black. She has logged over 2,000 minutes during that time. Newton has been named to the All-Big South team twice in two seasons and has scored 12 goals.
"I was able to represent and bring honor to my country, my family, and Gardner-Webb," Newton added. "Being on a national team is something I have aspired to my whole career as a women's soccer player and I am truly blessed to have the opportunity."
In addition to the six players on the current roster, Gardner-Webb has two incoming players for the 2020 season who have represented their respective countries. Bianca Stiles has played at the national training center for New Zealand, and Tina El-Amoor has played on the U18 Palestinian National Team.
Stiles was selected for the New Zealand U17 team in 2016, and played for the Auckland football federation representative team in 2018.
"Being selected for the team was an amazing honor," said Stiles, who is excited to develop her career in America.
El-Amoor played for the Palestinian senior national team in 2019 and the U18 national team from December 2019 to January 2020.
"It's always an honor to represent Palestine and to be able to play and meet such talented people... it's an experience I wouldn't trade for world," El-Amoor said.
El-Amoor signed with Gardner-Webb in November 2019. In high school she played midfield for Cleveland High School and the NCFC Elite. At Cleveland, El-Amoor was a member of the varsity soccer program for the past three seasons. She scorexd 17 goals and added 18 assists for 52 points. The midfielder was named All-Conference each season and was a 2019 All-Region and All-County selection.
Demirci has been invited to attend her country's national team camp in Turkey this summer. When asked what it meant to earn an invitation to the national team camp in Turkey she said, "I made a commitment to myself many years ago that playing for Turkey and representing my country would be my ultimate goal."
In Demiric's freshman season she played in 14 matches and recorded 284 minutes for Gardner-Webb. She attempted five shots on the season.
Having finally achieved her goal, Demirci reflected on her journey.
"For me, it all starts with the work and time you put into your craft off the field, studying the game at every opportunity and believing deep down that you can actually get to the point you have always been dreaming of," she said. "I know this is just the beginning for me, and representing Gardner-Webb's program overseas will be a true honor for me. Coach Varga has played such a big role in my development. The tougher he has been on me, the harder it has driven me to work and improve my play. I hope with this [opportunity] I can inspire other athletes to work hard and be relentless in their journey.
Teammate Bella Collins received an invitation to train with Trinidad & Tobago's national team this summer.
"I am excited and honored," Collins said. "Not all players get the opportunity, and it has been a dream of mine to represent Trinidad & Tobago at the next level."
Collins, who also wrapped up her freshman season in 2019, played in one game for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
In addition to Demirci and Collins, there are four other players on the Gardner-Webb women's soccer roster who have previously represented their respective national teams.
Paula Suarez Is represented the U17 Spanish National team that won the U17 Women's World Cup in 2018, the first women's national team from Spain to win a world cup.
When reflecting on her time winning with the Spanish National team Suarez Is said, "The moment we were on the podium receiving the medals with the cup, realizing that we had made history in our country, was an incredible and indescribable feeling."
In Suarez Is' rookie season as a goalkeeper for Gardner-Webb she played in 11 games and had ten starts, ending the season with a record of 4-6. She had an impressive .714 save percentage with 45 saves in 2019.
Vilma Rydell has taken part in Sweden's Youth National team camps. Rydell took part during the 2014-2015 season and participated in five games and camps during that season.
"Putting on the blue and yellow jersey and representing your country while doing the best thing in the world - playing soccer - is something that I will never forget," said Rydell.
Rydell also completed her freshman season at Gardner-Webb this past season, starting in all six matches that she played in for a total of 549 minutes.
Jaasiel Forde who is currently a sophomore at Gardner-Webb represented the Trinidad & Tobago U20 national team in 2015 and most recently in 2018 where Trinidad & Tobago hosted the CONCACAF U20 Women's World Cup qualifiers.
"Both times were really amazing", said Forde, who started two games against Haiti and Costa Rica. She lists her most memorable experience as "assisting on a goal as a defender in the Costa Rica match. The feeling of contributing to a goal for my country was just priceless."
During her time as a Runnin' Bulldog, Forde played in 30 total matches with 21 starts. She scored a total of three points with one goal and one assist.
Jada Newton has represented the U.S. Virgin Islands in Olympic Qualification on the National team in the fall of 2019.
"Being able to represent the USVI in Jamaica was an experience I will never forget," said Newton.
Newton, a rising junior at Gardner-Webb, has played in 30 matches for the Red and Black. She has logged over 2,000 minutes during that time. Newton has been named to the All-Big South team twice in two seasons and has scored 12 goals.
"I was able to represent and bring honor to my country, my family, and Gardner-Webb," Newton added. "Being on a national team is something I have aspired to my whole career as a women's soccer player and I am truly blessed to have the opportunity."
In addition to the six players on the current roster, Gardner-Webb has two incoming players for the 2020 season who have represented their respective countries. Bianca Stiles has played at the national training center for New Zealand, and Tina El-Amoor has played on the U18 Palestinian National Team.
Stiles was selected for the New Zealand U17 team in 2016, and played for the Auckland football federation representative team in 2018.
"Being selected for the team was an amazing honor," said Stiles, who is excited to develop her career in America.
El-Amoor played for the Palestinian senior national team in 2019 and the U18 national team from December 2019 to January 2020.
"It's always an honor to represent Palestine and to be able to play and meet such talented people... it's an experience I wouldn't trade for world," El-Amoor said.
El-Amoor signed with Gardner-Webb in November 2019. In high school she played midfield for Cleveland High School and the NCFC Elite. At Cleveland, El-Amoor was a member of the varsity soccer program for the past three seasons. She scorexd 17 goals and added 18 assists for 52 points. The midfielder was named All-Conference each season and was a 2019 All-Region and All-County selection.
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