CARSON, Calif. – The U.S. U18 Women’s National Team defeated UC Irvine 1-0 on Friday in the final game from the first camp of 2013 for this group. Despite the lack of goals, the game was highlighted by a number of chances for both teams to find the back of the net over the three 30-minute periods.

Emily Bruder

U.S. finally broke through in the 75th minute when Imani Dorsey (Freestate SA/ Elkridge, Maryland) finished off a splendid through ball from Mikaela Harvey (Lonestar SC/ Liberty Hill, Texas). Dorsey’s speed allowed her to get in behind the Irvine defense and finish off a 1v1 with the Anteaters keeper for the lone goal of the game.

The slick conditions thanks to intermittent downpours during the game contributed to some of the missed opportunities on the day for both teams.

Dorsey had the first quality look of the game thanks to some nifty holdup play from striker Cameron Castleberry (CASL/ Raleigh, N.C.). Castleberry sent Dorsey free on the wing, but Dorsey’s shot did not hook enough to tuck into the far post and went harmlessly past the goal.

Irvine nearly grabbed the opener when forward Laura McGrail carved out some space and hit a one-timer from the top of the box. The shot went over the bar though and did not force goalkeeper Alison Jahansouz into making a save.

McGrail was dangerous throughout the game. The 5-foot-10 striker showed good skill on the ball and offered the physicality to trouble the U.S. backline.

Four minutes after McGrail nearly broke through, Dorsey was once again knocking the door for the U.S. The determined winger benefitted from another superb pass from Harvey, but once again Dorsey pulled the shot wide of the target as she broke in on goal.

In the second period, the U.S. U18 WNT changed all 11 players, but the play did not seem to skip a beat, as midfielder Emily Ogle (Internationals SC/Strongsville, Ohio) took control of the proceedings. Ogle dictated the show from the center of the pitch with Elizabeth Boon (Vancouver United/Washougal, WA), Megan Buckingham (Michigan Hawks/Novi, Mich.) and Midge Purce (Freestate/Silver Spring, Maryland) supplying the weapons on the forward line.

Purce’s speed added a new dimension to the U.S. attack, as the former U.S. U17 Women’s National Team standout had a burst of pace that was difficult for the Irvine defenders to match in 1v1 situations. But the Big West squad did a good job of funneling her into other defenders, which limited Purce’s opportunities.

Boon and Purce both had good looks on goal during the second period but neither managed to get a shot on goal. Ogle had the best chance on a driven effort from 18 yards out, but goalkeeper Jennifer Randazzo did well to push the bouncing shot away for a corner kick.

In the final period, U.S. found its breakthrough with Dorsey with only 15 minutes remaining in the fixture. Irvine had a few chances to equalize after the goal, but could not get that final touch into the net.

U.S. should have doubled the put the game away in the dying moments when Buckingham broke past the Irvine defense and had a quality chance against the keeper, but her effort was saved.

U.S. U18 WNT Starting XI:

Alison Jahansouz; Gabrielle Miranda, Madeline Bauer, Indigo Gibson, Maddie Elliston; Jordan DiBiasi, Rose Lavelle, Mikaela Harvey; Imani Dorsey, Cameron Castleberry, Gabrielle Matulich

Notes:

• Bauer (Slammers FC/Newport Beach, Calif.) and Gibson (Slammers FC/Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) did well in setting the tone for the defense. Despite some hiccups against McGrail, the two Slammers defenders shut down the opposition for the most part.
• Irvine defender Zoya Farzaneh also had a good outing. Farzaneh had the pace to match the U18 WNT attack, and also provided some timely interceptions with good vision.
• Almost all of the U.S. midfielders had good showings with each finding time and space to operate against Irvine. Lavelle (Cincinnati United [CUP]/Cincinnati, Ohio) did well with the first group as the holding linchpin. The Ohioan distributed the ball well early in the game.

U.S. U-18 WNT Camp Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Darian Dunham (Yankee United; Cheshire, Conn.), Alison Joahansouz (So Cal Blues; Huntington Beach, Calif.), Madalyn Schiffel (San Francisco; Citrus Heights, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (7): Madeline Bauer (Slammers FC; Newport Beach, Calif.), Madeline Elliston (Elite Girls Academy; Omaha, Neb.), Indigo Gibson (Slammers FC; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Chloe Hemingway (West Coast FC; Irvine, Calif.), Gabbi Miranda (Colorado Rush; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Elizabeth Raben (Colorado Rush; Greenwood Village, Colo.), Dominique Romero (Heat FC; Las Vegas, Nev.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Betsy Brandon (Colorado Rush; Littleton, Colo.), Katherine Cousins (Richmond Kickers; Forest, Va.), Jordan DiBiasi (Colorado Rush; Littleton, Colo.), Mikaela Harvey (Lonestar SC; Liberty Hill, Texas), Maddie Huster (Ohio Elite; Cincinnati, Ohio), Rose Lavelle (Cincinnati United; Cincinnati, Ohio), Emily Ogle (Internationals SC; Strongsville, Ohio)
FORWARDS (7): Elizabeth Boon (Vancouver United; Washougal, Wash.), Emily Bruder (Utah Avalanche; Sandy, Utah), Megan Buckingham (Michigan Hawks; Novi, Mich.), Cameron Castleberry (CASL; Raleigh, N.C.), Imani Dorsey (Freestate United; Elkridge, Md.), Gabrielle Matulich (MVLA Lightning; Los Gatos, Calif.), Margaret Purce (Freestate; Silver Spring, Md.)

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