U-20 WNT Opponent: Guatemala (CONCACAF 2012)

The first opponent for the USA’s U-20 WNT in the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship is Guatemala (March 2nd, 5:00pm Eastern).

The USA and Guatemala are in Group B with Cuba and hosts Panama. The USA is a clear favorite to win its group, but the other spot is up for grabs.

Below are some general notes about Guatemala as well as some player notes.

* * *

Country/Federation Profile:

  • Population: 14.1 million (note: median age is 20, compared to 36.9 for USA)
  • GDP per capita: $5,000 (USA’s is $48,100)
  • Federation: Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala (www.FedefutGuate.org)
  • Women’s League: la Liga Nacional de Fútbol Femenino
  • Senior WNT Ranking: 85th overall, 7th in CONCACAF

(Source for population and GDP data: CIA Factbook.)

How They Got to the Final Tournament: Guatemala finished at the top of their group in a three team round-robin with two other Central American teams. Guatemala defeated Costa Rica and Honduras with 3-1 scorelines in both matches. María Monterroso had braces in both matches.

Performance in Past CONCACAF Women’s U-20/U-19 Championships:

  • 2010: Qualified as host. Did not get out of group (finished 3rd, behind Canada and Costa Rica). Matches: 3-1 loss to Canada, 3-0 loss to Costa Rica, 2-1 win over Cuba.
  • 2008: Did not qualify.
  • 2006: Did not qualify.
  • 2004: Did not enter.
  • 2002: Did not qualify.

* * *

PLAYER NOTES

Guatemala’s original tournament roster is available at FedefutGuate.org. Yoselin Magdalena Morataya has been replaced by Rocio Velasquez. Morataya is unable to travel to Panama for unspecified “problemas personales” according to FedfutGuate’s website. Here is the updated roster (positions via CONCACAF’s website):

  • GOALKEEPERS: Yoselin Franco, Stephanie Castellón.
  • DEFENDERS: Jeymi Hernández, Ana Hernández, María Morales, Londy Barrios Castañeda, Gabriela Mejía, Marlen Veliz, Marilyn Gabriela Rivera, Clahyri Calderón.
  • MIDFIELDERS: Carmen García -Gallont, María Argueta, Cinthya López, Yoseline Parra, Mía Espino, Daniela Dougherty, Rocio Velasquez.
  • FORWARDS: Marleny Marroquín, Idania Pérez, María Monterroso.

Player to Watch: The coach’s daughter, Senior WNT forward María Monterroso. Monterroso scored 2 goals in Vancouver at the Women’s Olympic Qualifying and had 4 goals in 2 matches during Central American U-20 qualifying. Maria has a slightly older sister, Coralia Andrea Monterroso, who is also on Guatemala’s senior WNT.

Monterroso’s father, Benjamín Monterroso,  is a veteran of Guatemala’s MNT. He was just recently appointed head coach of the U-20 team (6-Feb-2012). He has coached his daughters’ Unifut women’s club team since 2010, and he has briefly coached both the women’s and men’s national teams.  Seven members of the Unifut club squad, including Monterroso, are on this U-20 national team.

Players with Senior Caps: Six players saw action with Guatemala’s senior WNT in the recent Women’s Olympics Qualifying Tournament (in Vancouver):

  • María Amanda Monterroso Asteguieta+
  • Idania Betzaida Pérez Herrera
  • Marilyn Gabriela Rivera Padilla+
  • Cinthya Gabriela López Soto+
  • Londy Waleska Barrios Castañeda+
  • Jeymi Piedad Hernández Rojas

Of the above six, all but Hernández Rojas also played in the final Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Mexico (2010).  Two more players were at that 2010 tournament as well:

  • Daniela Andrade Dougherty (who played in one match)
  • Marlen Andrea Veliz Florián (no minutes)+
The plus signs (+)after the names indicate that the player is one of the seven members on this squad from the Unifut club team. The other two are Yoselin Noemi Franco Marroquin and Gabriela Elizabeth Mejía Vasquez.

(Other players may have seen action with the senior national team, but the CONCACAF tournaments are the easiest to check as technical documents are available which have team rosters with basic player stats.)

2010 Tournament Veterans: Seven players on this roster were in Guatemala’s 2010 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship squad.

  • María Amanda Monterroso Asteguieta*
  • Idania Betzaida Pérez Herrera*
  • Londy Waleska Barrios Castañeda*
  • Marilyn Gabriela Rivera Padilla*
  • Cinthya Gabriela López Soto*
  • Daniela Andrade Dougherty*
  • Yoselin Noemí Franco Marroquín

*Players with caps in senior CONCACAF tournament finals matches, as noted earlier.

2010 U-17 Tournament Veterans: n/a (Guatemala did not qualify for CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship).

Players with American Connections: Two players are currently members of NCAA D1 squads. A third is a junior in high school (2013 graduation date), who has already made a verbal commitment.

  • Stephanie Castellón (born in Newport Beach, CA). Position: Goalkeeper. Team: Houston Baptist University (Sophomore). Her 2011 stats include a 1.49 goals against average and a record of 2-6-1 (W-L-T), See also: HBU Huskies profile page.
  • Daniela Andrade (born in Guatemala City, Guatemala). Position: Midfielder/Forward. Team: University of South Florida (Freshman). Andrade only saw limited action with USF last season (just 2 matches). Previously, Andrade attended IMG Academy’s Pendleton School in Florida. FSU’s coach on Andrade: “Daniela has a tremendous amount of potential. She is a very creative player and makes good decisions on and off the ball, which should allow her to be successful at the next level” (source). See also: USF Bulls profile page.
  • Mia Espino (born in n/a). Position: Midfielder. Team: Eclipse Select U17 (Chicago). Graduates in 2013. Has verbally committed to Ball State.
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