Photo by: CONCACAF
López Wins CONCACAF U-20 Title, Named to Tourney’s Best XI
Jan 29, 2018 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Soccer standout Jimena López starred for the Mexico Under-20 Women's National Team as they bested the United States in a penalty kick shootout, 4-2, Sunday to claim the title at the North, Central American and Caribbean Association of Football (CONCACAF) U-20 Championship in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago.
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 Aggie freshman 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 Friday's semifinal match, López notched Mexico's lone goal in the 34th 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 freshman 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.
An Aggie has played on each of the last two CONCACAF Under-20 Championship winners. In December 2015, Mikaela Harvey starred for the United States Under-20 Women's National Team as they captured the crown in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
With their performance at the tournament, Mexico also secured a bid to the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, slated for August 5-24 in the Brittany region of France, along with the United States and Haiti, who toppled Canada, 1-0, in the third-place match Sunday.
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.
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 Aggie freshman 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 Friday's semifinal match, López notched Mexico's lone goal in the 34th 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 freshman 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.
An Aggie has played on each of the last two CONCACAF Under-20 Championship winners. In December 2015, Mikaela Harvey starred for the United States Under-20 Women's National Team as they captured the crown in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
With their performance at the tournament, Mexico also secured a bid to the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, slated for August 5-24 in the Brittany region of France, along with the United States and Haiti, who toppled Canada, 1-0, in the third-place match Sunday.
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.
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