On Friday, the four remaining teams in the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship will face off in a semifinal doubleheader: First, the USA will take on Mexico in the first semifinal, while Canada will play the hosts, Panama, in the second match. The winners of these semifinals will qualify for the 2012 Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Japan. The two losing teams will still have a chance to qualify, as three spots are available, and will play each other in the third-place match on Sunday. The two semifinal winners will play each other in the Championship final, also on Sunday, with only pride and the avoidance of injuries at stake. Continue reading “2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship: Knock-Out Stage Preview”
Tag: U20 USWNT
U-20 USWNT: CONCACAF Championship Playing Time (Group Stage)
After watching the first three USA group stage matches in the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, where head coach Steve Swanson has generously employed his full roster, I was curious to see how his use of his roster compares to past U-20 USWNT coaches in previous CONCACAF Championships.
As it turns out, Swanson’s usage of his roster is the most liberal since since 2006, when Tim Schulz (edit: it’s Schulz, no “t”) helmed the U-20 USWNT. Compared to the past two head coaches, Jill Ellis (2010) and Tony DiCicco (2008), Swanson has rested more starters: 8 starters from the first match did not play in either the second or third match, compared to 4 or less for Ellis (3) and DiCicco (4). Swanson has also used more players: all 20 on the roster, in fact, compared to 18 out of 20 for both Ellis and DiCicco. In 2006, Schulz also rested 8 first match starters during the group stage and used his entire roster.
Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: CONCACAF Championship Playing Time (Group Stage)”
CONCACAF WU-20: Group B Preview (U-20 USWNT)
The USA’s Under-20 Women’s National Team formally kicks off its quest for the 2012 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup, today, in Panama, as it takes on Guatemala. The U-20 USWNT’s other two group stage opponents, Cuba and Panama, also play today. Continue reading “CONCACAF WU-20: Group B Preview (U-20 USWNT)”
CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship: Group A Preview
Assuming the U-20 USWNT make it out of Group B in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship (which is a very safe assumption), Group A will contain at least one knock-out stage opponent, and probably two. The two most likely knock-out stage opponents from Group A are Canada and Mexico. The other two teams in the group are Haiti and Jamaica. Continue reading “CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship: Group A Preview”
Canada U-20 WNT Final Roster (CONCACAF 2012)
On Wednesday (correction: not Monday), Canada announced their final 20-player roster for the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. The U-20 team had been in camp for two weeks with 22 players (canadasoccer.com). Eighteen of the twenty-two players attend American universities. I have listed the final roster below, adding hyperlinks to the players’ team bios, where available. The two players cut from the roster are Rachelle Beanlands ( University of Maryland) and Erin Uchacz (Oregon State).
Continue reading “Canada U-20 WNT Final Roster (CONCACAF 2012)”
U-20 USWNT: Player Profiles and My Take on the Starting Line-Up (CONCACAF 2012)
The U-20 USWNT takes to the field this Friday, in Panama. But, who will start for the United States? That is the guessing game that die-hard fans will be playing until about an hour before kick-off, which is when the actual roster has to be submitted to a match official.
This series of articles is my best educated guess about who will be the go-to starters for the USA in the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Player Profiles and My Take on the Starting Line-Up (CONCACAF 2012)”
U-20 USWNT: Goalkeepers (CONCACAF 2012)
The U-20 USWNT has two goalkeepers on its 20-player roster for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Panama: Bryane Heaberlin, who has committed to and already enrolled at UNC (Chapel Hill); and Abby Smith (older rosters may list her as “Abagail”), a high school senior who has officially committed to the University of Texas. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Goalkeepers (CONCACAF 2012)”
U-20 USWNT: Defenders (CONCACAF 2012)
The U-20 USWNT has six defenders listed on its 20-player roster for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Panama: Stephanie Amack, who is the youngest player on the roster; “freakishly athletic” Olivia Brannon of Virginia; Crystal Dunn, the most internationally experienced defender on this squad, although she plays forward at UNC; Kassey Kallman of Florida State, who is the anchor of the backline; Gatorade 2009-2010 National High School Girls Soccer Player of the Year Mollie Pathman of Duke, who is also another coverted forward; and Cari Roccaro, another high schooler, who has officially committed to Notre Dame. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Defenders (CONCACAF 2012)”
U-20 USWNT: Midfielders (CONCACAF 2012)
The U-20 USWNT has six midfielders listed on its 20-player roster for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Panama: 2010 Gatorade High School Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Morgan Brian of Virginia; the sophomore slump-free Vanessa DiBernardo of Illinois and Julie Johnston of Santa Clara; three-peat Gatorade High School Girls Soccer Player of the Year for Indiana, Sarah Killion; on-field scoring assistant Mandy Laddish of Notre Dame, and 5’11” “little sister,” Sam Mewis of UCLA. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Midfielders (CONCACAF 2012)”
U-20 USWNT: Forwards (CONCACAF 2012)
The U-20 USWNT has six forwards listed on its 20-player roster for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Panama: Oregon’s own Micaela Capelle of Portland; record-breaking Maya Hayes of Penn State; Golden (Colorado) girl Lindsay Horan, a high school senior who has officially committed to UNC; speedy scoring threat Kealia Ohai of UNC; ACC leading scorer two years running, Katie Stengel of Wake Forest; and triple passport-holder Chioma Ubogagu of Stanford. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Forwards (CONCACAF 2012)”
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