Tierna Davidson (SHP '16) Named USWNT Young Female Player of the Year
The 20-year-old Davidson, a junior at Stanford University, attended the U.S. WNT’s annual January training camp in Los Angeles, and then at age 19, earned her first senior team cap, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in the USA’s first match of the year, a 5-1 victory against Denmark in which she picked up the game-winning assist on a goal by Julie Ertz. She was the third teenager since 2013 to earn a first cap for the WNT.
Mallory Pugh (17 in 2016) and Lindsey Horan (19 in 2013) are the most recent teenagers to debut for the senior squad.
Early in the year, she also played for the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team during the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship, helping the USA earn a berth to the U-20 World Cup.
As 2018 moved along, the skillful and remarkably poised left-footer firmly established herself with the senior team. She started all 12 games in which she played, mostly at center back but she also saw some action at left back and was on the field for 1,049 minutes.
Her second, third and fourth caps were serious tests that Davidson passed with flying colors as she played every minute of the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, against Germany, France and England. The 5-foot-10 Davidson scored her first career goal on Aug. 31 against Chile, powering home a header from a Tobin Heath corner kick.
Davidson, who helped lead Stanford to an NCAA title in 2017, was injured early during the college season, breaking her ankle after suffering a harsh tackle against the University of North Carolina and did not play again for the Cardinal. She missed the World Cup qualifying tournament and the USA’s trip to Europe in November due to the injury.
“It’s a huge honor, not only to be nominated, but to be chosen for this award. It’s been quite a year in terms of the quick start, getting to play for the National Team in some big games and then being included on the team for most of the year. And then, it came to a quick stop with the injury.
OveralI though, this year was a great experience and I really enjoyed it. This award is of course a product of my teammates in college and with the National Team as they are always around you and they are the ones that make you look good. Also, I appreciate the belief that my coaches Paul, Hideki and Margueritte at Stanford, and Jill, Tony and Graeme with the National Team have had in me while giving me these opportunities to grow as a person and a player. I’m looking forward to putting this injury behind me and I can’t wait to get back on the field in January.”
OveralI though, this year was a great experience and I really enjoyed it. This award is of course a product of my teammates in college and with the National Team as they are always around you and they are the ones that make you look good. Also, I appreciate the belief that my coaches Paul, Hideki and Margueritte at Stanford, and Jill, Tony and Graeme with the National Team have had in me while giving me these opportunities to grow as a person and a player. I’m looking forward to putting this injury behind me and I can’t wait to get back on the field in January.”
The U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year has been awarded since 1985, when midfielder Sharon Remer earned the first Female Athlete of the Year honor. The Young Female Player of the Year honor was first awarded in 1998, with 2018 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Cindy Parlow earning the honor. Players cannot win the Young Male or Young Female award more than once.
Click here to read the full article...
Click here to read the full article...
Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12
