Page 18 - aruba-today-20181208

A18 SPORTS
Saturday 8 december 2018
Alex Morgan named

U.S. Player of the Year

In this July 5, 2015, file photo, the United States Women's Nation-
al Team celebrates after they beat Japan in the FIFA Women's
World Cup soccer championship in Vancouver, British Colum-
bia.
Associated Press
U.S. women to open

2019 at France, play

Mexico in send-off

CHICAGO (AP) — The Unit- Tampa, Florida, then meets
ed States women's soccer Australia on April 4 at Com-
team will open next year merce City, Colorado, and
with games at World Cup Belgium three days later at
host France and Spain and Los Angeles.
finish a 10-game schedule The Americans close their
leading to the tournament warmups against South
with a send-off match Africa on May 12 at Santa
against Mexico at Harrison, Clara, California, against
New Jersey, on May 26. an opponent to be deter-
The defending world mined four days later at St.
champion Americans play Louis and versus Mexico.
France at Le Havre on Jan. "This schedule checks a lot
In this July 26, 2018, file photo, U.S. forward Alex Morgan, right, celebrates her hat trick with de- 19 and face Spain at Ali- of important boxes in our
fender Tobin Heath (17) and other teammates during the second half of a Tournament of Nations cante three days later, the preparation for the World
soccer match against Japan, in Kansas City, Kan.
U.S. Soccer Federation said Cup. We'll get to experi-
Thursday. ence a variety of teams
CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Mor- has three assists and has Carli (Lloyd), I felt I was Japan, which beat the U.S. in regard to their strengths
gan has been named U.S. logged 1,500 minutes this challenged to succeed in in the 2011 World Cup fi- and styles of play and al-
Soccer's Player of the Year year, most of any player on a really positive way and nal and lost the final to the most all of the countries will
for a second time after the team. was comfortable grow- Americans in 2015, plays be in their World Cup prep-
leading the national team Morgan also earned Player ing into this larger role with the U.S. on Feb. 27 at Ches- aration as well," U.S. coach
with 18 goals in 19 games of the Year honors in 2012, the team," Morgan said ter, Pennsylvania. Jill Ellis said in a statement.
and helping it earn a spot when she had 28 goals and in a statement. "I'm also The top-ranked U.S. plays The U.S. will learn its group-
in the World Cup next year helped the national team pleased that I was able to England on March 2 at stage World Cup oppo-
in France. win an Olympic title. improve and evolve in my Nashville, Tennessee, and nents during Saturday's
Defender Tierna Davidson, The U.S. women's team, play along the way. There's Brazil three days later at draw at Paris.q
who started in her first nine ranked No. 1 in the world, a good energy to the team
national team appear- went undefeated in 2018 right now and we're all re-
ances, was named Young with 19 wins and two ties. ally looking forward to get-
Player of the Year, U.S. Soc- That extended the team's ting started next year."
cer announced Friday. The overall unbeaten streak to The other nominees for
19-year-old's college sea- 28 games, dating to a 1-0 women's player of the year
son at Stanford was cut loss to Australia in the 2017 included Julie Ertz, Tobin
short when she broke her Tournament of Nations. Heath, Lindsey Horan and
ankle in September. The draw for the World Cup Rapinoe. The voting panel
Morgan scored seven of is set for Saturday in Paris. includes the national team
her goals during the CON- The United States is the de- coaches, players who have
CACAF World Cup qualify- fending champion, having made at least one appear-
ing tournament this fall to won in Canada in 2015. ance with the team this
earn the Golden Boot. The Morgan currently sits at 98 year, members of the U.S.
U.S. won the tournament career international goals. Soccer Board of Directors,
and earned a spot in the "To be named captain members of the media and
World Cup. Morgan also with Megan (Rapinoe) and other select panelists.q