U-20 WNT
U.S. Under-20 Women Open La Manga Tournament with 3-2 Victory against Norway
Tournament in Spain Opens U-20 FIFA World Cup Cycle
U.S. to Face France and Germany in the Coming Week
On the same day that the full U.S. Women’s National Team was defeating Norway 1-0 at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, just about 400 miles to the east, the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team defeated the Norway U-20s, 3-2, to open the 10 Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain. The USA struck for all three goals before 15 minutes had elapsed, finding the net three times in a six-minute span.
The first came just seven minutes into the game on the rare occurrence of a player taking a corner kick and then scoring the goal. Defender Kristie Mewis took it from the right, but the ball was cleared back to her in the corner after bouncing around the penalty area. She took the ball on the dribble down the end line, dribbled around her defender with a touch to the inside and hit her left-footer low into the right corner from seven yards out.
Three minutes later, the USA made it 2-0 when defender Camille Levin settled under a Norwegian clearance about 40 yards from the goal. Levin headed it back into Norwegian half over their defense to Maya Hayes, who collected, spun towards goal and stuffed her shot into the near post under the ‘keeper from the top of the penalty area.
Three minutes after that, 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup hero Sydney Leroux made it 3-0 on an assist from Casey Short. Leroux won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in Chile as the USA won the U-20 Women’s World Cup at the end of last year. Norway pulled two goals back on penalty kicks in the 13th and 88th minutes, both by June Tarnes, but the Americans held on for the win.
The USA will face the France U-20s on March 11 and the Germany U-20s on March 13 to complete the competition. “Today was a good taste of international competition for us,” said U.S. head coach Jillian Ellis. “We had some very good possession early on in the game and some great individual efforts. It’s a great way to start the tournament and you can’t under estimate the value for these young players in facing talented teams like the Norwegians, French and Germans.”
Match: United States U-20 Women's National Team vs. Norway U-20 Women’s National Team
Date: March 9, 2009
Competition: 10 Nations Tournament
Venue: La Manga, Spain
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. ET)
Weather: 59 degrees, windy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 0 3
NOR 1 1 2
USA – Kristie Mewis 7th minute
USA – Maya Hayes (Camille Levin) 10
USA – Sydney Leroux (Casey Short) 13
NOR – June Tarnes (penalty kick) 27
NOR – June Tarnes (penalty kick) 88
Lineups:
USA: 1-Bianca Henninger; 13-Kristie Mewis, 2-Cloee Colohan - Capt., 4-Whitney Sharpe, 7-Camille Levin (23-Brianne Young, 23); 12-Zakiya Bywaters (6-Mandy Laddish, 61), 3-Alexis Harris (5-Samantha Mewis, 46), 21-Casey Short, 11-Sydney Leroux (9-Kealia Ohai, 84); 16-Maya Hayes (20-Tiffany McCarty, 46), 14-Toni Pressley (10-Vicki DiMartino, 70)
Subs not used: 18-Parkhill
Head Coach: Jillian Ellis
NOR: 1-Ingrid Thorbjornsen; 4-Trine Lund, 13-Laila Himie, 16-Cecilie Pedersen, 2-Marlene Christoffersen (5-Eirin Fleppa, 33); 6-June Tarnes, 7-Ingrid Moe Wold, 11-Marita Eide (8-Hanna Haanes, 76); 10-Hege Hansen (3-Marie Thomassen, 57, 20-Vikre, 86), 9-Oda Bolkan Fugelsnes (15-Ann Mari Dovland, 81), 17-Kristine Wigdahl Hegland
Subs not used: 12-Pettersen, 14-Liane, 18-Fykse, 19-Bakke
Head Coach: Jarl Torske
Stats Summary: USA / NOR
Shots: 8 / 6
Shots on Goal: 6 / 6
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 2
Fouls: 6 / 9
Offside: 2 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
None
U.S. Under-20 Women Open La Manga Tournament with 3-2 Victory against Norway
Tournament in Spain Opens U-20 FIFA World Cup Cycle
U.S. to Face France and Germany in the Coming Week
On the same day that the full U.S. Women’s National Team was defeating Norway 1-0 at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, just about 400 miles to the east, the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team defeated the Norway U-20s, 3-2, to open the 10 Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain. The USA struck for all three goals before 15 minutes had elapsed, finding the net three times in a six-minute span.
The first came just seven minutes into the game on the rare occurrence of a player taking a corner kick and then scoring the goal. Defender Kristie Mewis took it from the right, but the ball was cleared back to her in the corner after bouncing around the penalty area. She took the ball on the dribble down the end line, dribbled around her defender with a touch to the inside and hit her left-footer low into the right corner from seven yards out.
Three minutes later, the USA made it 2-0 when defender Camille Levin settled under a Norwegian clearance about 40 yards from the goal. Levin headed it back into Norwegian half over their defense to Maya Hayes, who collected, spun towards goal and stuffed her shot into the near post under the ‘keeper from the top of the penalty area.
Three minutes after that, 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup hero Sydney Leroux made it 3-0 on an assist from Casey Short. Leroux won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in Chile as the USA won the U-20 Women’s World Cup at the end of last year. Norway pulled two goals back on penalty kicks in the 13th and 88th minutes, both by June Tarnes, but the Americans held on for the win.
The USA will face the France U-20s on March 11 and the Germany U-20s on March 13 to complete the competition. “Today was a good taste of international competition for us,” said U.S. head coach Jillian Ellis. “We had some very good possession early on in the game and some great individual efforts. It’s a great way to start the tournament and you can’t under estimate the value for these young players in facing talented teams like the Norwegians, French and Germans.”
Match: United States U-20 Women's National Team vs. Norway U-20 Women’s National Team
Date: March 9, 2009
Competition: 10 Nations Tournament
Venue: La Manga, Spain
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. ET)
Weather: 59 degrees, windy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 0 3
NOR 1 1 2
USA – Kristie Mewis 7th minute
USA – Maya Hayes (Camille Levin) 10
USA – Sydney Leroux (Casey Short) 13
NOR – June Tarnes (penalty kick) 27
NOR – June Tarnes (penalty kick) 88
Lineups:
USA: 1-Bianca Henninger; 13-Kristie Mewis, 2-Cloee Colohan - Capt., 4-Whitney Sharpe, 7-Camille Levin (23-Brianne Young, 23); 12-Zakiya Bywaters (6-Mandy Laddish, 61), 3-Alexis Harris (5-Samantha Mewis, 46), 21-Casey Short, 11-Sydney Leroux (9-Kealia Ohai, 84); 16-Maya Hayes (20-Tiffany McCarty, 46), 14-Toni Pressley (10-Vicki DiMartino, 70)
Subs not used: 18-Parkhill
Head Coach: Jillian Ellis
NOR: 1-Ingrid Thorbjornsen; 4-Trine Lund, 13-Laila Himie, 16-Cecilie Pedersen, 2-Marlene Christoffersen (5-Eirin Fleppa, 33); 6-June Tarnes, 7-Ingrid Moe Wold, 11-Marita Eide (8-Hanna Haanes, 76); 10-Hege Hansen (3-Marie Thomassen, 57, 20-Vikre, 86), 9-Oda Bolkan Fugelsnes (15-Ann Mari Dovland, 81), 17-Kristine Wigdahl Hegland
Subs not used: 12-Pettersen, 14-Liane, 18-Fykse, 19-Bakke
Head Coach: Jarl Torske
Stats Summary: USA / NOR
Shots: 8 / 6
Shots on Goal: 6 / 6
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 2
Fouls: 6 / 9
Offside: 2 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
None
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