Beadling duo, Abbey Spalla and Kaylin Hoffman, earn USYNT Call-Ups

Western Pennsylvania continues to solidify its reputation as a premier talent pipeline for U.S. Soccer, with two Beadling SC standouts recently earning call-ups to the U.S. Youth National Team (USYNT).

Representing the U19 level is Abbey Spalla, a standout defender from South Fayette High School and a Penn State commit.

Spalla, who has consistently worked her way through the national team ranks, brings a high-level defensive IQ to the U19 camp, following a decorated prep career where she earned All-WPIAL and All-State honors.

Spalla’s progression into the Nittany Lions’ program marks another chapter in the long-standing tradition of elite local defenders moving on to the Big Ten stage.

Joining her in the national spotlight is Kaylin Hoffman, who was selected for the U16 USYNT roster for the L’Albir International Friendly Tournament in Spain this April.

A member of the Class of 2028 at Peters Township High School, Hoffman is recognized as one of the top young goalkeeping prospects in the country.

While she remains uncommitted due to NCAA recruiting timelines, her international experience against world-class competition in Spain highlights her rapid ascent.

Both players represent the high standard of development at Beadling—the region’s MLS Next and Girls Academy affiliate—and their success further cements Western Pennsylvania as an evolving critical hub for the next generation of American soccer stars.

This surge in talent follows the recent news of Lilia Bhuta (Mt. Lebanon/Century United) being named to the U.S. U-15 Girls’ Youth National Team, signaling that the region is becoming a burgeoning hub for the national player pool across all age groups.

This trend is perhaps enhanced by Fairview (Erie County) native and Kansas City Current professional Katie Scott, who recently wrapped up a high-stakes U20 training camp in Kansas City.

A former member of PA West ODP with a 2024 FIFA U-17 World Cup bronze medal already to her name, Scott is now a regular starter in the NWSL and is currently preparing for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

From the youth ranks of Beadling to the professional stadiums of the NWSL, Western Pennsylvania is proving that its players are no longer just regional standouts—they are world-class contenders.

Western Pennsylvania’s soccer landscape has shifted from a regional curiosity to a verified national powerhouse. In reaching these milestones, Spalla and Hoffman are following a well-worn path carved by some of the most decorated names in the sport’s history—trailblazers who proved that WPIAL standouts could reach the highest levels of the international game.

The current generation of stars is led by Sarah Schupansky (North Allegheny), the first Pitt Panther ever named First Team All-ACC, who recently secured an NWSL Championship in her rookie year with Gotham FC. She is joined in the professional ranks by Tessa Dellarose (Brownsville), a standout at North Carolina who now anchors the defense for Chicago Stars FC, and Landy Mertz (Upper St. Clair), a multi-time All-ACC selection at Pitt who made her professional debut with the North Carolina Courage in 2024. These players have made the transition from local club fields to the NWSL look seamless, building on the foundation set by veterans like Veronica Latsko (Peters Township). Latsko, a two-time Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year, recently retired in 2025 following a stellar pro career with the Houston Dash and Seattle Reign, leaving behind a legacy of offensive dominance.

At the pinnacle of this movement stands the ultimate trailblazer, Meghan Klingenberg (Pine-Richland). A 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, Klingenberg’s journey from a state championship at Pine-Richland to starting every minute of a World Cup victory is the blueprint for every young player in the region. Whether it was Klingenberg’s early versatility at UNC or Latsko’s goal-scoring records at Virginia, these women didn’t just participate in the national conversation—they drove it.

As Bhuta, Spalla and Hoffman head to their respective camps, they do so not as outliers, but as the next expected links in a chain that stretches from the community fields of Pittsburgh to the world stage.