CHICAGO -- U.S. Soccer has announced the nominees for the 2016 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award. The winner of the award will be revealed on Sunday, Dec. 11, on ESPN FC.
The U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year nominees are midfielders Emily Ogle and Andi Sullivan, defenders Kaleigh Riehl and Karina Rodriguez and forward Ashley Sanchez.
A new voting process was put into place in 2014. Votes are collected from respective National Team coaches, National Team players who have earned a cap in 2016, American soccer league (MLS, NASL and NWSL) head coaches, select media members, former players and administrators. Players cannot win the Young Female award more than once.
Ogle and Riehl both redshirted during the 2016 Penn State women's soccer season to play for the U.S. U-20 Women's Soccer National Team at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
The U.S. U-20 WNT finished fourth at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. For the Red, White and Blue at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, Ogle and Riehl played the full-time in all six matches.
During the 2016 calendar year, Ogle and Riehl both attended numerous training camps with the U.S. U-20 WNT leading up to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which took place Nov. 13-Dec. 3 in Papua New Guinea.