ALICANTE, SPAIN (April 19, 2025) – The U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team fell 4-3 to host Spain in a back-and-forth match which was the first of two between the teams.
The USA will face Spain again on Monday, April 21 at Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano in Alicante to finish the trip.
The young Americans got off to a great start, scoring just five minutes into the match as forward Lilah Helwig finished a rebound off a shot from forward Daphne Van der Weide that had been parried by the Spain goalkeeper.
Spain responded right away, equalizing two minutes later via a free kick from Ivet Franch Blanco. Spain then took the lead in the 13th minute with Maria Rius Villamana finishing a rebound off a save by U.S. goalkeeper Brooke Volpp.
The USA equalized just before half as midfielder Mia Corona converted a penalty kick that was earned by Utah Royals forward KK Ream, the only professional on the U.S. roster.
Spain took the lead in the 58th minute off a header from Villamana and then went up two in the 65th off a corner kick goal from Maria Valladolid Curiel. The USA pulled one back late as Van der Wiede converted her one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper in the 87th minute, but it was too little, too late for the USA.
These were the first international goals at this age level for all three U.S. scorers.
All the U-16s on this trip are age-eligible for selection to the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in Morocco later this year.
-U.S. Under-16 Women’s Youth National Team Match Report-
Match: United States U-16 Girls’ National Team vs. Spain U-16 Women’s National Team
Date: April 19, 2025
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Estadio Guillermo Amor; Alicante, Spain
Weather: 68 degrees; Sunny with mild breeze
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| ESP |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| USA – Lilah Helwig | 5th minute |
| ESP – Ivet Franch Blanco | 7 |
| ESP – Maria Rius Villamana (Ivet Franch Blanco) | 13 |
| USA – Mia Corona (Penalty Kick) | 45+1 |
| ESP – Maria Rius Villamana (Maddi Martin Iglesias) | 58 |
| ESP – Maria Valladolid Curiel (Abril Rius Sanchez) | 65 |
| USA – Daphne Van der Wiede | 87 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Brooke Volpp (12-Lola Ta, 46); 3-Elena Vera, 6-Anaiah Williams (16-Rachel Lawless-Felarca, 79), 14-Meila Brewer, 22-Emily Baxter (13-Marin Kotschau, 46); 4-Loradana Paletta (8-Grace Murray, 62), 5-Taylor Morrell (24-Gabrielle Johnson, 83), 10-Mia Corona (Capt.) (15-Carolina Reyna, 46); 11-KK Ream (18-Maddie DiMaria, 46), 9-Lilah Helwig (20-Camila Palafox, 79), 17-Daphne Van der Weide
Subs not used: 2-Kendra Hansen, 19-Amari Manning, 7-Deus Stanislau, 21-Malia Zillman
Head Coach: Ciara Crinion
ESP: 1-Antia Veiga Carames, 4-Georgina Morante Marquez (21-Sata Perez Serrano, 73), 5-Abril Rius Sanchez (Capt), 17- Maialen Valladares Mesa (15-Abril Diaz Martin, 46); 20-Maddi Martin Iglesias; 10-Vera Molina Moleon (2-Mabel Sierra Biera, 62), 14-Elena Vizuete Cano (12-Angela Galvez Castellano, 46); 18-Maria Rius Villamana (6-Avril Rius Sanchez, 62), 11-Lidia Gibert Magdaleno; 8-Laia Cabetas Mejias, 7-Ivet Franch Blanco (24-Claudia Sande Dominguez, 62)
Subs not used: 11-Lidia Gibert Magdeleno, 18-Maria Rius Villamana, 10-Vera Molina Moleon, 7-Antia Veig Carames
Head Coach: Laura del Rio Garcia
Stats Summary: USA / ESP
Shots: 7 / 11
Shots on Goal: 6 / 8
Saves: 3 /4
Corner Kicks: 3 / 6
Fouls: 4 / 9
Offside: 2 /3
Misconduct Summary:
ESP – Maddie Martin Iglesias (Caution)49th minute
Officials
Referee: Raquel Ortiz Garcia (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Naiara Martinez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Angela Asensio Borderia (ESP)
Fourth Official: Gabrielle Alex Birtles (ESP)
