United States women's national under-20 soccer team

The United States U-20 women's national soccer team is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer. Its primary role is the development of players in preparation for the senior women's national team. The team most recently appeared in the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in France, where they failed to progress from the group stage for the first time in the competition's history. The team competes in a variety of competitions, including the biennial FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which is the top competition for this age group.

United States under-20
Nickname(s)Team USA
The Stars and Stripes
The Yanks
AssociationUnited States Soccer Federation
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Head coachLaura Harvey
Most capsMaya Hayes (43)
Top scorerKelly Wilson (31)
FIFA codeUSA
First colors
Second colors
CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship
Appearances10 (first in 2002)
Best resultWinners (2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2020)
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Appearances10 (first in 2002)
Best resultWinners (2002, 2008, 2012)

History

Beginnings as a U-18 program

The United States U-20 team has been active since 1998; however, it was run as a U-18 team from its inception until 2001.[1] It was led by Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, the first coach in the team's history, through the middle of 1999 before she left for the Maryland Terrapins soccer team. Jay Hoffman, who served as Higgins-Cirovski's assistant, took charge of the team and led them to a gold medal for the 1999 Pan American Games, the first time the tournament was open to women's teams. Among the U-18 women playing at the 1999 Pan American Games were future senior national team members Cat Whitehill and Hope Solo.[2]

The switch to U-19

2001 through 2003

In 2001, the United States Soccer Federation decided to change the age limit from the U-18 team to U-19. The move was in preparation for FIFA's introduction of the first ever FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship (which has since changed). The new U-19 squad won the inaugural 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Canada, where they beat the hosts on a golden goal by captain and future United States women's national team mainstay Lindsay Tarpley. Five other members of that same team would join Tarpley as teammates on the senior international team: Rachel Buehler, Lori Chalupny, Heather O'Reilly, Leslie Osborne and Angie Woznuk. Other notable 2002 team members were Kelly Wilson, the all-time leading goal scorer in the history of the U-20 team, as well as two-time Hermann Trophy winner Kerri Hanks, who would go on to become one of the most decorated players in women's collegiate soccer.

2004

In 2004, the U-19 team placed third at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand, after having been defeated by Germany in the semifinals.[3] The tournament marked the world championship debut of future senior national team members Yael Averbuch, Stephanie Lopez, Amy Rodriguez and Megan Rapinoe. However, in 2006, FIFA increased the age limit of the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship to 20. 2004 also saw the first loss to a similar-aged team in the history of the program when the squad lost to Japan.

Competing as a U-20 team

2005 and 2006

As the United States Soccer Federation did in 2001 prior to the introduction of the U-19 tournament, they raised the age of the squad from U-19 to U-20 in 2005. The move was, again, in response to FIFA's altering of the competition from U-19 to U-20. The actual team's play in 2005 was quiet due to a transition in coaches.

In 2006, the United States U-20 team played in a whopping 50 matches prior to the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in Russia; however, the team finished in fourth place. The U.S. lost to China in penalties in the semifinal and followed up the loss with another to Brazil in the third-place match, also on penalties.[4] Seven members of that 2006 team: Lauren Cheney, Christina DiMartino, Tobin Heath, Stephanie Lopez, Casey Nogueira, Kelley O'Hara and Amy Rodriguez, have made appearances for the senior national team. Lopez played in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, and, joined by Cheney, Heath and Rodriguez, also represented the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Nogueira and O'Hara helped the 2008 U-20 team to qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup that same year.

2007 and 2008

2007 saw the squad sent to the 2007 Pan American Games, just as they had done prior in the 1999 Pan American Games. This time around, the United States sent along two "over-aged players" in Lauren Cheney and Brittany Taylor. The decision proved costly as the supplemented U-20 team were dismantled in the finals, 5–0, to a full-strength Brazil squad.[5]

In 2008, two years removed from the disastrous fourth-place finish at the 2006 U-20 World Championship, the United States U-20 women finally reclaimed the World Cup title at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile, with Sydney Leroux winning the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe for being named the best player of the tournament as well as scoring the most goals. Alex Morgan earned the Silver Shoe as the tournament's second-highest scorer and the Silver Ball as the tournament's second-best player behind teammate Leroux.[6] To date, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, Christine Nairn, Alyssa Naeher, and Meghan Klingenberg are the only members of the 2008 squad to be capped by the senior national team.

2009 and 2010

In 2009, Tony DiCicco handed the coaching reins back to Jill Ellis, who had coached the 2007 Pan American Games squad. 2009 also saw the influx of players who took part in the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup into the U-20s, including Kristen Mewis, US Soccer's 2008 Young Female Player of the Year, and Vicki DiMartino, younger sister of U-20 alumni Christina (2006) and Gina (2007–2008). Two members of the 2008 squad, Sydney Leroux and Christine Nairn, returned to captain the team through the next World Cup cycle.

The team won the 2010 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship title the next year and secured a berth to the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, to be held in Germany. Sydney Leroux was the leading scorer at the tournament with six goals.[7] In the World Cup, they won their group, but lost on penalty kicks to Nigeria in the quarterfinals. Leroux was again their leading scorer, tallying five goals in their four matches.

2011 and 2012

In 2011, Steve Swanson was named coach of the squad for the second time, after having coached in 2000. To prepare for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, the team played 8 friendlies (winning seven) and qualifying with ease for the World Cup, scoring 24 goals in the qualifying tournament, while conceding only once.

In the World Cup, the squad was led by a Maya Hayes hat trick en route to beating Ghana 4–0. After a 1–1 draw against China, and a 3–0 loss to Germany, the US qualified for the quarterfinals over China on goal differential. In the quarterfinals, Chioma Ubogagu scored in extra time in a 2–1 victory over North Korea. In the semifinal, Morgan Brian and Kealia Ohai scored in a 2–0 win over Nigeria. The final was a rematch with Germany. Ohai scored right before halftime, and the US held on for a 1–0 win and their third World Cup championship.

2013 and 2014

Following the 2012 World Cup win, Michelle French took over the U-20 program. Defenders Cari Roccaro and Stephanie Amack returned from the 2012 World Cup winning side to lead the team along with Paris Saint-Germain target woman Lindsey Horan, the first American woman to skip college and turn professional, and Andi Sullivan, who was named co-captain despite being the youngest player on the squad during qualifiers. The US team again coasted through the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, winning all 5 matches without even conceding a single goal. However, the World Cup would offer much greater resistance as they started out in the Group of Death with international powerhouses Germany, Brazil, and China.

The World Cup tournament would feature a large sense of deja vu from two years prior, with the Americans grouped with China and Germany again. The US opened in a rematch of the previous final against Germany, this time coming up short, losing 2–0. But in a similar manner that they had in the previous World Cup, they survived the group stage with wins against Brazil and China behind strong performances by Lindsey Horan and central midfielder Rose Lavelle. The second-place finish in their group would match them for the second tournament in a row against North Korea and as they had two years before, the match went into extra time. Unfortunately for the Americans, this time the winning magic was not to be found as the game went into a shootout from the penalty spot and the Korean keeper dominated. Savannah Jordan, Lindsey Horan, and Rose Lavelle were all denied by Korean keeper Kim on weak efforts from the spot and the Americans exited the tournament earlier than expected.

2016–present

In 2016, the team participated in the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, and made it to the semifinals, where they lost to North Korea again in extra time.[8] They then lost to Japan in the third-place match.[9]

In February 2017, US Soccer reassigned Michelle French to be a full-time assistant coach for the senior women's national team,[10] with Jitka Klimková replacing her as head coach in April 2017.[11]

The team finished runners-up in the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. In the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, the team failed to progress from the group stage for the first time in history.

Competitive record

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA Coach
2002Champions6600262Tracey Leone
2004Third place6501144Mark Krikorian
2006Fourth place6420113Tim Schulz
2008Champions6501123Tony DiCicco
2010Quarterfinals422082Jill Ellis
2012Champions6411105Steve Swanson
2014Quarterfinals421153Michelle French
2016Fourth place622276Michelle French
2018Group Stage311183Jitka Klimkova
2021QualifiedLaura Harvey
Total10/1047319710131
After the award ceremony at the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women'S World Cup in Japan

CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship tournament record

The U-20 women have won the CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship six times, in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2020;[12] the 2002 tournament did not have a championship final.[13] The U-20s finished as runners-up to Canada in 2004 and 2008 and to Mexico in 2018.

Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA Coach
2002No final held3300341Tracey Leone
2004Runners-up5311323Mark Krikorian
2006Champions5500193Tim Schulz
2008Runners-up5401201Tony DiCicco
2010Champions5500152Jill Ellis
2012Champions4400241Steve Swanson
2014Champions5500290Michelle French
2015Champions5410223Michelle French
2018Runners-up532084Jitka Klimková
2020Champions7700441Laura Harvey
Total9/949434224719

Pan American Games

The under-18 team participated and won the inaugural soccer tournament in the 1999 Pan American Games,[14] while the under-20 team lost in the final of the 2007 Pan American Games,[15] competing against full national teams. These opportunities are a consequence of holding the FIFA Women's World Cup in the same year as the Pan American Games.

Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA Coach
1999Champions6510222Jay Hoffman
2003
No United States team participated
2007Runners-up64021711Jill Ellis
2011
No United States team participated
2015
No United States team participated
Total2/4129133913

Players

Current squad

The following 20 players were named to the squad for the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.[16]

Caps and goals are current as of February 13, 2020.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Claudia Dickey 0 0 North Carolina Tar Heels
1GK Julia Dohle (2001-02-06) February 6, 2001 6 0 Penn State Nittany Lions
2DF Maycee Bell (2000-09-18) September 18, 2000 4 1 North Carolina Tar Heels
2DF Sierra Enge 0 0 Stanford Cardinal
2DF Naomi Girma (2000-06-14) June 14, 2000 25 0 Stanford Cardinal
2DF Shae Holmes 2 0 Washington Huskies
2DF Brianna Martinez 4 0 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2DF Emily Mason 2 0 PDA
2DF Kennedy Wesley 0 0 Stanford Cardinal
3MF Talia DellaPeruta 4 0 Köln
3MF Katelyn Duong (2001-03-27) March 27, 2001 3 0 Minnesota Golden Gophers
3MF Jenna Nighswonger (2000-11-28) November 28, 2000 4 1 Florida State Seminoles
3MF Brianna Pinto (2000-05-24) May 24, 2000 32 4 North Carolina Tar Heels
3MF Alexa Spaanstra (1998-07-19) July 19, 1998 13 2 Virginia Cavaliers
3MF Summer Yates (2000-06-17) June 17, 2000 4 2 Washington Huskies
4FW Mia Fishel (2001-04-30) April 30, 2001 0 0 UCLA Bruins
4FW Rebecca Jarrett 5 0 Virginia Cavaliers
4FW Samantha Meza 7 1 Solar SC
4FW Trinity Rodman 2 1 So Cal Blues SC
4FW Sophia Smith (2000-08-10) August 10, 2000 27 23 Portland Thorns

Recent call-ups

The following players were named to a squad in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Meagan McClelland Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship ALT
GK Angelina Anderson California Golden Bears Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
GK Mia Justus IMG Academy Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
GK Halle Mackiewicz Real Colorado Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
DF Natalia Staude (2001-04-30) April 30, 2001 Virginia Cavaliers 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship ALT
DF Michela Agresti (2001-07-24) July 24, 2001 Boston College Eagles Training camp; January 9–20, 2020
DF Samar Guidry FC Dallas Training camp; January 9–20, 2020
DF Smith Hunter (2002-01-04) January 4, 2002 Reign Academy Training camp; January 9–20, 2020
DF Bria Schrotenboer Michigan State Spartans Training camp; January 9–20, 2020
DF Julia Dorsey North Carolina Tar Heels Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
DF Cassandra Hiatt Texas Tech Red Raiders Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
DF Samantha Kroeger World Class FC Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
DF Quincy McMahon Real Colorado Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
DF Sally Menti Crossfire Premier Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
DF Ella Shamburger Vanderbilt Commodores Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
DF Hannah Zaluski George Washington Colonials Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
DF Makenna Morris McLean Youth Soccer v. Japan; August 31, 2019
DF Madison Perez Legends FC v. Japan; August 31, 2019
DF Paige Tolentino NC Courage Academy v. Japan; August 31, 2019
DF Abby Allen Lonestar SC v. Japan; August 28, 2019 PRE
MF Astrid Wheeler (2001-08-20) August 20, 2001 Concorde Fire 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship ALT
MF Maya Doms Stanford Cardinal Training camp; January 9–20, 2020
MF Avery Lockwood Indiana Hoosiers Training camp; January 9–20, 2020
MF Zoe Hasenauer Oregon Ducks Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
MF Sakura Yoshida Oregon Ducks Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
MF Hannah Bebar Eclipse Select SC Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
MF Aislynn Crowder Hawaii Rush SC Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
MF Emily Mathews Nationals Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
MF Amber Nguyen Tophat Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
MF Aki Yuasa Bayern Munich v. Japan; August 31, 2019
FW Catherine Barry NEFC Training camp; January 9–20, 2020
FW Sydny Nasello (2000-04-14) April 14, 2000 USF Bulls Training camp; January 9–20, 2020
FW Isabel Cox North Carolina Tar Heels Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
FW Lia Godfrey United Soccer Alliance Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
FW Dilary Heredia-Beltran Sporting Blue Valley Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
FW Diana Ordonez Virginia Cavaliers Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
FW Anna Podojil Arkansas Razorbacks Nike International Friendlies; December 9–13, 2019
FW Ainsley Ahmadian Eclipse Select SC Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
FW Hannah Richardson Kentucky Wildcats Training camp; November 4–10, 2019
FW Reilyn Turner So Cal Blues SC Training camp; November 4–10, 2019

Notes:

  • ALT: Alternate
  • PRE: Preliminary squad

Previous major tournament rosters
2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup squad
2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup squad
2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup squad
2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup squad
2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup squad
2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup squad
2007 Pan American Games squad
2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship squad
2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship squad
2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship squad

Player records

International match statistics, as of August 12, 2014. All goals scored in international matches only.

Top scorers

Rank Player Goals Years
1 Kelly Schmedes 31 2001–2002
2 Lindsey Horan 24 2011–2014
2 Sydney Leroux 24 2008–2010
2 Kelley O'Hara 24 2006–2008
2 Lindsay Tarpley 24 2001–2002
6 Kerri Hanks 22 2002–2004
7 Heather O'Reilly 18 2001–2002
8 Maya Hayes 16 2010–2012
9 Lauren Cheney 15 2006–2007
10 Amy Rodriguez 11 2004–2006

Most capped players

Rank Player Caps Years
1 Maya Hayes 43 2010–2012
2 Crystal Dunn 39 2010–2012
2 Ashlyn Harris 39 2002–2004
2 Sydney Leroux 39 2008–2010
5 Samantha Mewis 38 2010–2012
6 Kelley O'Hara 35 2006–2008
7 Cari Roccaro 34 2011–2014
8 Kerri Hanks 30 2002–2004
9 Christine Nairn 28 2008–2010
10 Lindsey Horan 26 2011–2014
10 Teresa Noyola 26 2007–2010
10 Lindsay Tarpley 26 2001–2002
Players still eligible for the U-20 player pool in bold.

Coaches
gollark: Yes, I'm sure you'd like to think so.
gollark: Observe: apioforms, COMPARTMENTAL SLATS, gollark for staff.
gollark: All my memetic campaigns are, *ultimately*, successful.
gollark: Orbital laser strikes.
gollark: Newer nuclear technology would be even safer and better but AAAAAAAAÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆÆAA NOWHERE IS DEPLOYING IT.

References
  1. 2009 WNT U.S. Soccer Media Guide
  2. U.S. Under-18 Women Defeat Mexico 1–0, Take Home Inaugural Pan Am Championship, US Soccer, August 5, 1999.
  3. U.S. Women Fall to Germany, 3–1, at U-19 World Championship, US Soccer, November 24, 2004.
  4. USA Falls to Brazil in Penalties to Finish Fourth at U-20 Women's World Championship, US Soccer, September 3, 2006.
  5. U-20 WNT Fall in Pan-Am Final to Full Brazilian National Team Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, US Soccer, July 26, 2007.
  6. Morgan and Leroux, blazing a trail, FIFA.com, December 8, 2008.
  7. U.S. U-20 WNT Claim CONCACAF Crown with 1–0 Defeat of Mexico, US Soccer, January 30, 2010.
  8. "Korea DPR into final as USA sunk in extra time". FIFA.com. November 29, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  9. "Ueno ensures dominant Japan earn third". FIFA.com. December 3, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  10. "Michelle French, B.J. Snow Join Senior WNT Staff". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  11. "Jitka Klimkova, Mark Carr named head coaches of U.S. U-20, U-17 WNTs". SoccerWire. April 7, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  12. "USA Earns Fourth CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Crown with 4–0 Victory Against Mexico".
  13. CONCACAF Qualifying Set for U-20 WWC in Germany and U-17 WWC in Trinidad & Tobago, US Soccer, November 30, 2009.
  14. "U.S. Under-18 Women Defeat Mexico 1–0, Take Home Inaugural Pan Am Championship". U.S.Soccer. August 5, 1999. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  15. "U-20 WNT Fall in Pan-Am Final to Full Brazilian National Team". U.S.Soccer. July 26, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  16. https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/02/harvey-names-usa-roster-for-2020-concacaf-womens-u20-championship-in-dominican-republic
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