López Begins U20 Women’s World Cup Play

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M sophomore Jimena López begins play Sunday at the 2018 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup being held in the Brittany region of France from August 5-24.

Mexico U-20 Women's National Team head coach Christopher Cuellar selected López as one of 21 players to compete at the world championship.

El Tri has group games slated against Brazil (8/5), defending tournament champion North Korea (8/8) and England (8/12). The three group matches air on Telemundo Deportes. The matches vs. Brazil and England will also air on FS1.

The quarterfinal round is August 16-17, the semifinal matches are August 20 and the championship and third-place contests are August 24.

López starred for Mexico as they bested the United States in a penalty kick shootout, 4-2, to claim the title at the North, Central American and Caribbean Association of Football (CONCACAF) U-20 Championship in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago back in January to earn the World Cup spot. The teams played to a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes, leading to the shootout. López buried her shot in the third round of the shootout to give El Tri a 2-1 advantage. Both squads converted in the fourth round and a goal by Belén Cruz Arzate in the fifth round clinched the title.

The Mexico City native was recognized for her stellar play by being named to the Gold Cup Best XI by the Technical Study Group, identified as the tournament's top left back. In Mexico's five matches at the tournament, López played 485 of 510 minutes, tallying one goal and one assist. She was also successful on a penalty kick in both of Mexico's shootouts.

In the semifinal match, López notched Mexico's lone goal in the 34^th minute when she sent a crafty free kick through the back line and to the left of a diving netminder from 20 yards out right of the penalty arc. The Aggie was also successful in her shootout attempt. Her fourth round goal evened the shootout at 3-3. After Mexico's keeper Emily Alvarado Natividad saved a shot from Canada's Jordyn Huitema in the fifth round, Venicia Juárez Smith sent El Tri into a celebration with her clincher.

López had a banner 2017 as a freshman with the Aggies. The defender started 20 matches for the Maroon & White, including 10 starts. She racked up seven points on three goals and one assist. López was named the SEC Freshman of the Week after scoring twice in the opening weekend while playing a part in an Aggie defense that recorded back-to-back-shutouts.

Mexico is looking for their first U20 world title. El Tri has participated in seven of the eight U20 Women's World Cups, which have been contested every even year since 2002. The only nations to qualify for all eight are Brazil, Germany, Nigeria and the United States. Mexico's best finishes include quarterfinal showings in 2010, 2012 and 2016.

This marks the second consecutive U20 Women's World Cup that will include an Aggie. Ally Watt played for the United States squad that finished fourth at the 2016 tournament.