United States U15 GNT Crowned Champions of 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship
The U.S. U15 Girls’ National Team claim the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship title following a 2-0 victory over Canada in Orlando, Florida. The young Americans finished the tournament with seven wins and seven shutouts in addition to a total score tally of a remarkable 49 goals.
Youth Soccer News: The U.S. U15 Girls’ National Team defeated Canada 2-0 in the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship final held on Sunday in Orlando, Florida. The U.S. claimed the crown off goals from forwards Kalyssa Van Zanten and Samantha Meza was the second edition of the youth tournament.
“I’m really proud of our team for becoming CONCACAF Under-15 champions,” said U.S. head coach Mark Carr. “Canada threw everything at us that we could handle and made it very hard as we expected, but I thought that our game plan was executed perfectly and that we were in control throughout.”
The USA did not compete in the inaugural tournament held in 2014 that saw Canada crowned champions in the Cayman Islands.
Van Zanten (Eclipse Select SC) and Meza (Dallas Kicks) put the U.S. on the board in the championship game, while goalkeeper Ruth Jones (Charlotte Soccer Academy) recorded the shutout. Jones also received Golden Glove honors as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
The U.S. finished with a 7-0 record – recording seven shutouts and scoring 49 goals. Gabrielle Robinson (Braddock Road SC), Payton Linnehan (FC Stars of Massachusetts), and Canada’s Jordyn Huitema (Whitecaps) finished as the top scorers of the tournament with each tallying a total of eight goals. Linnehan was award the Golden Boot.
The U15 GNT pushed past Bermuda with a dominant 12-0 performance in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal match against Costa Rica. The U.S. continued its stride with a 5-0 win to set up a match with the defending champs.
The U.S. opened the scoring three minutes into the second half of the 70-minute match off a Van Zanten tackle and finish. Meza doubled the Americans’ lead off a corner kick 20 minutes later sent in from Eleanor Glenn to the back post.
“This is a special group and we have thoroughly enjoyed the journey together. I am very proud of these players and I know the future is very bright in our U.S. youth national team programs,” said Carr.
The 2001 age group now prepares for the 2018 U17 World Cup held in Uruguay as the young Americans strike for continued success.
