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The Stanford women’s soccer team will be well-represented in the next round of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany, with four Cardinal players still competing.
Stanford’s Alina Garciamendez scored a crucial equalizer to lift Mexico to a 1-1 draw with Nigeria and into the knockout stages of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday in Bochum, Germany, when Mexico was in danger of not advancing.
And the United States, with three Stanford players, beat South Korea, 1-0, in Bielefeld to win Group D.
The U.S. (2-0-1, 7 points) plays Nigeria on Sunday in a quarterfinal in Augsburg while Mexico, the Group C winner, follows with a match against South Korea in Dresden the same day.
In the 78th minute of Mexico’s match, Garciamendez controlled a ball with her chest and struck a right-footed volley from close range to shoot Mexico from third to first in Group C. The Mexicans (1-0-2, 5 points) tied Nigeria on points, but won on total goals (5-4), with Japan (4 points) eliminated from the tournament despite finishing only a point behind.
Garciamendez, who will be a sophomore central defender for the Cardinal this fall, is the captain of the Mexican team.
For the USA, Rachel Quon played the entire match at right outside back, and Stanford teammates Teresa Noyola and Courtney Verloo were second-half substitutes. Noyola, who entered in the 57th minute as an attacking midfielder, nearly scored on a dipping shot from the top of the box that was pushed wide by South Korea’s goalkeeper. She also released Sydney Leroux on a breakaway that resulted in a wide shot.
— Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Sports Information
— Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Sports Information
— Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Sports Information