March 12, 2012
U.S. Soccer Recap | CONCACAF Recap & Highlights
PANAMA CITY, Panama - Penn State women's soccer sophomore standout Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) scored the game-tying goal Sunday night as the U.S. U-20 National Team beat Canada, 2-1, to win the CONCACAF Championship. Hayes won her second straight U-20 regional title as the team now readies for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in August hosted by Japan.
During the lead up to the final, Hayes scored four times. The New Jersey native tallied two early goals for the United States against Cuba during a 6-0 dismantling. She then added two second-half goals against host Panama on Mar. 6 to lead all Americans.
Her fifth goal was most important Sunday night. With the World Cup berth already clinched, all that was left was to win the CONCACAF title, but Canada sprung to an early fifth-minute lead. Despite peppering the Canadian net (out-shooting Canada 28-7), the Americans could not score for over 78 minutes. That's when Hayes struck home an eight-yard shot through a wicket of Canadian defenders to tie the game and give the U.S. added life. Ten minutes later, Stanford's Chioma Ubogagu scored the game-winner just a minute from full time to capture the U.S.'s second straight U-20 title.
Hayes and company will now prepare over the Spring and Summer for the 2012 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup in Japan from Aug. 19-Sept. 8.
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