In the midst of the storm, Ashley Sanchez was a one-woman wrecking ball.
Japan’s U17 team squeezed the U.S. on possession in the final group game for both at the 2016 U17 World Cup in Jordan. The one outlet the U.S. had was seemingly Sanchez, the tirelessly versatile attacker who dipped into space and jarred Japan’s defenders into dealing with her blend of speed and vision. Sanchez scored twice in the game despite a heavy imbalance in possession, and the U.S. was only as close as the final 3-2 scoreline because Sanchez got them there.
It was a typical performance from Sanchez, who’s used to carrying the load at just about every stop she’s been. Not long thereafter, she made a bit of history by trekking to the U20 World Cup across the world in Papua New Guinea, where she was equally as rampant. All in a day’s work.
READ: Sanchez tops 2017 girls IMG Top 150 | Rating The YNT: Top 5 girls forwards
If not for Mallory Pugh, a generational talent who’s pulled most all of the national USWNT spotlight into her orbit over the last few years, Sanchez would be a much more common topic. As is, she’s generally considered the consensus Best USWNT Prospect now that Pugh is a full-fledged senior team member. And with a visible freshman season at UCLA looming this fall, you’re about to hear about her a lot more.
This week’s TDS Scouting Report? It's Sanchez’s turn.
