U-23 WNT opens La Manga Tournament with 1-0 victory against Japan

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team opened its three-game tournament in La Manga, Spain, with a 1-0 victory against their U-23 counterparts from Japan as forward Lynn Williams scored the game’s lone goal in the 54th minute.

For Williams, a former Pepperdine University standout who was taken in the first round of the 2015 NWSL Draft (sixth overall) by the Western New York Flash, it was her first goal at the international level in her first U-23 cap.

The goal came off a short corner kick that was taken by midfielder Danielle Coloprico. She played a pass to forward Makenzy Doniak, who gave it back to Colaprico. The ninth pick in the NWSL Draft by the Chicago Red Stars then beat a defender to the end line and played the ball across the face of the goal in the air. Williams connected with a first-time volley to provide a fine finish.

The 22-player U.S. squad features 14 professional players, including 13 who were taken in the recent 2015 NWSL Draft. The only one-year pro is Chicago Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo, who along with Sarah Killion (second pick overall to Sky Blue FC), Samantha Mewis (fourth overall to Western New York Flash), Notre Dame defender Cari Roccaro, and University of Texas goalkeeper Abby Smith, were all on the U.S. team that won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The USA will face Norway on Feb. 28 and England on March 2 to complete the friendly tournament, which also features China PR and Sweden.

– U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team vs Japan U-23 Women’s National Team
Date: February 26, 2015
Competition: U-23 Six Nations International Tournament
Venue: La Manga Football Centre; La Manga, Spain; La Manga, Spain

Scoring Summary:       1          2          F                                             

USA                             0          1          1
JPN                              0          0          0

USA – Lynn Williams (Danielle Colaprico)            54th minute 

Lineups:
USA: 18-Abby Smith, 17-Andi Sullivan, 13-Emily Sonnett, 25-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Caprice Dydasco, 8-Sarah Killion (9-Rose Lavelle 68), 14-Samantha Mewis, 3-Vanessa DiBernardo (2-Danielle Colaprico, 46), 6-Shea Groom, 20-Lynn Williams, 11-Stephanie McCaffrey (5-Makenzy Doniak, 46)
Subs not used:, 1-Jane Campbell, 7-Jaelene Hinkle, 10-Stephanie Verdoia, 15-Cari Roccaro, 16-Daphne Corboz, 19-Cheyna Williams, 21- Lo’eau LoBonta, 23-Kristin Grubka
Head Coach: Steve Sampson

JPN: 12-Chica Kato, 15-Natsumi Saito, 3-Shiori Miyake, 4-Tomoko Muramatsu, 2-Yushika Nakamura, 11-Hanae Shibata, 8-Hikari Takagi (14-Ayaka Inoue, 78), 7-Ami Sugita, 10-Rika Masuya (16-Miki Irie, 46), 6-Mai Kyokawa, 9-Mina Tanaka (17-Haruka Hamada, 61)
Subs not used: 1-Rei Takenaka, 5- Mariko Tanaka, 13-Akari Shiraki, 

Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 11 / 6
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 6 / 2
Fouls: 7 / 5
Offside:  2 / 1 

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: J. Lavrenovaite
Assistant Referee 1: V. Siliuniene
Assistant Referee 2: I. Skiptitene