March 11, 2012
=”” alt=”Facebook Logo” border=”0″ class=”imported”>Gamecock Women’s Soccer on Facebook
=”” alt=”Twitter Logo” border=”0″ class=”imported”>Follow @GamecockWSoccer on Twitter
By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two goals in the final 12 minutes shocked the Canadian Under-20 women’s national team Sunday night as USA earned gold and the Sabrina D’Angelo-led Canadians took silver at the 2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championships held at the Estadio Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez in Panama City, Panama.
The South Carolina freshman from Welland, Ontario, came within 12 minutes of becoming the first goalkeeper in CONCACAF U-20 Championship history to post five shutouts in a single tournament before the Americans completed their come-from-behind victory. D’Angelo matched her career-best with eight saves in a match that USA dominated with a 29-6 shot advantage and 15-2 corner kick advantage.
Despite the loss, Canada has qualified for the upcoming 2012 FIFA Under-20 World Cup that will be held in Japan later this summer. Canada, USA and Mexico will represent CONCACAF in the 16-team tournament. D’Angelo has previously represented Canada as the starter at the 2010 Under-17 World Cup in Trinidad & Tobago.
In Sunday’s championship match, Canada took the early lead in the fifth minute with a goal from Jenna Richardson. Team USA immediately began pouncing on the Canadians and tested D’Angelo early and often after falling behind, but the keeper saved an attempt by Katie Stengel. The Americans were awarded upwards of seven corner kicks in the opening half, but D’Angelo and the Canadian backline were able to keep the tournament’s most potent offensive attack at bay.
The Americans began the second half with the pressure on Canada continuing, forcing D’Angelo to make a point-blank save off a header in the 49th minute. Another 1v1 shot from 16 yards was saved by D’Angelo in the 59th to save what should have been an equalizer for USA.
The equalizer finally came in the 79th minute when Hayes beat two defenders inside the penalty area and slotted a ball into the far post, narrowly ending D’Angelo’s bid to become the first goalkeeper in CONCACAF U-20 Championship history to post five shutouts in a single championship tournament. The Americans added a shock winner in the 89th minute when Chioma Ubogagu poked the ball during a scrum in front of the net to take the lead.
About D’Angelo & CONCACAF U-20 Championship
The eight-team CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship qualified three teams to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup – the United States, Canada and Mexico. D’Angelo has previously competed for Canada at the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship where she was the starting goalkeeper for the side that won the gold medal with a 1-0 shutout win against Mexico in the final in addition to a shutout win over Team USA in the semifinal. This tournament marks D’Angelo’s first call-up to the U-20 squad, the last level on the Canadian women’s pyramid before reaching the full national team.
