The U18 Women’s National Team was back in action Wednesday night, facing the WPSL’s Ajax in a scrimmage at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Despite a somewhat lethargic start to the game, the U18s proved to be the better team in the end and walked away with a 1-0 victory against the professional outfit.

U18 Coach Dave Chesler said he was glad to see his team shake off its slow start and turn in a well-rounded performance when the day was done.

“Young players like this sometimes play at too high a tempo, so we ended up giving the ball away a lot in the beginning,” he said. “But I thought as the game went on, we started to get into a bit of a rhythm and created some good pattern work up front.

“We worked on combining off the lone striker, getting the two wide players to join the attack as quickly as possible, and getting the striker to present herself to give us a good target near the half line, and I thought we did that well as the game went on.”

Indeed, the U18s looked overwhelmed and overmatched for much of the game’s first 15 minutes.

Central midfielders Lindsay Elston and Ashley Spivey were unable to gain control of possession and center back Dominique Richardson lost the ball a few times in very dangerous positions.

Ajax got several scoring opportunities off these mistakes, and pinged shots off the crossbar twice in the game’s first 10 minutes.

But Chesler’s insertion of Lindsey Horan into the lineup as the lone striker changed the complexion of this game.

Horan was able to hold the ball up and allow her teammates time to move up and bolster the attack, and Team U.S.A. started clicking on offense once she entered in the 25th minute.   

Winger Mollie Pathman was dynamic and repeatedly combined with Horan to generate scoring opportunities. She took a beauty from 35 yards out at the end of the first half that skimmed the top of the crossbar, and later used an assist from Horan and a nifty piece of dribbling in the box to score the game’s only goal.

Meagan Morris and Chioma Ubogaga were also dangerous along the wing.

Morris displayed her usual feistiness, winning balls in the air and whipping in crosses from the wing, and Ubogaga used great quickness to break the Ajax defense down as she cut inside. She didn’t show great vision or patience passing the ball, though, and was subbed out in the 25th minute.

As the game progressed, the U.S. started dominating possession and forced Ajax to chase the ball.

Morgan Brian was fantastic, displaying a tireless work rate, strong tackling, patient distribution and incisive passing in a central midfield role.

Laura Liedle subbed in as a right back and showed great hustle and smarts distributing the ball. At one point – remarkably – she took the ball, passed it, and received it back seven times in a row without losing possession. Her final pass was a pretty, cutting long ball to Morgan Brian.

Center back Cari Roccaro shifted marking assignments well and cut off a number of would-be through balls. She was decisive and aggressive on the tackle.

Arin Gilliland showed great athleticism and tackling as a left back, as well as the ability to get forward on the attack. Even when she lost the ball, she used her speed and power to win it back.

Right wing Ariana Martinez was constantly involved in the attack from the moment she entered the game in the second half. She was very aggressive and created problems with her cutting passes down the seams.

Defender Rileigh McHugh was strong on the tackle and fearless attacking the ball in the air.

Sarah Killion was effective as a second-half sub in the central midfield, showing good burst, passing ability and touch on the ball.

And finally, Caroline Stanley was effective in goal, though she didn’t have to work too much. She communicated constantly, and made every save necessary to preserve the win.

In all, it was a very productive outing for the U18s. With eight new faces in the mix, communication and chemistry wouldn’t come easily.

But pure, unadulterated talent can work wonders for a game plan – as Wednesday’s victory proved once again.


U18 WNT Starting Lineup By Position:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Caroline Stanley (KCFC Alliance; Kansas City, Mo.)

DEFENDERS (4): Arin Gilliland (Ohio Elite; Wilmore, Ky.), Dominique Richardson (Legends FC; Fullerton, Calif.), Cari Roccaro (Albertson Fury; East Islip, N.J.), Meagan Morris (Montclair Aristocrates; Montclair, N.J.)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Morgan Brian (Ponte Vedra Storm; St. Simons Island, GA.), Lindsay Elston (Crossfire Premier, Sammamish, Wash.), Mollie Pathman (Triangle FC; Durham, N.C.), Ashley Spivey (Baltimore Soccer Bays; Baltimore. Md), Chioma Ubogaga (D’Feeters; Coppell, Texas)

FORWARDS (1): Shea Groom (KCFC; Liberty, Mo.)


Substitutes By Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Rachel Boaz (So Cal Blues; Murrieta Calif.), Anna Sieloff (Vardar; Troy, Mich.)

DEFENDERS (5): Laura Liedle (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Rileigh Mchugh (Hershey Attack SC; Hummelstown, Pa.)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Alexandra Doll (Bethesda SC; Bethesda, Md.), Brooke Gilbert (Emerald City; Snohomish, Wash.), Julie Johnston (Sereno SC; Mesa, Az.), Sarah Killion (Fort Wayne Fever; Fort Wayne, Ind.), Kylie McCarthy (San Diego Surf; Rancho Sante Fe, Calif.)

FORWARDS (2): Lindsey Horan (Colorado Rush; Golden, Colo.), Ariana Martinez (So Cal; Moore Park, Calif.)