SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR, SPAIN (March 3, 2026) – The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team put on a remarkable performance to roll past Sweden 8-0 in one of the biggest wins for a U.S. Women’s Youth National Team over a European opponent in recent memory.
The USA scored four goals in each half and started the deluge in the just the second minute with a goal from forward Ella Kral. Forward Ellie Kocher, a veteran of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Team, tallied in the 18th minute to make it 2-0. Forward Audrey McKeen, the only professional player on the roster, then scored twice in six minutes, in the 30th and 35th, to send the USA into the locker room at halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Forward Lily Jeakle, who came on for McKeen at halftime, made it 5-0 in the 57th and then forward Kate Kemmerley, also a halftime sub, bagged a brace in seven minutes before Jaekle completed her brace in the 83rd.
The USA face the Hungary U-19 WNT on March 6 to end the trip. The winner of the round-robin competition will be determined on total points, with three for a win, one for a tie and zero for a loss. The tiebreakers are 1) best goal difference, 2) most goals scored, 3) best Fair Play Ranking, 4) Best FIFA ranking and then 5) drawing lots.
These matches are the first international action of the year for U.S. U-18 WNT head coach Toni Pressley’s squad. All 20 players on this roster were born in 2008. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, are age-eligible for the 2026 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Poland and that roster will likely include mostly 2006 and 2007-born players.
These matches are part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.
--U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team Match Report--
Match: U.S. U-18 Women's National Team vs. Sweden U-18 Women’s National Team
Date: March 3, 2026
Competition: Pinatar Cup
Venue: Pinatar Arena; San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
Attendance: 100
Weather: 58 degrees, windy
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
4 |
4 |
8 |
| SWE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| USA - Ella Kral (Audrey McKeen) | 2nd minute |
| USA - Ellie Kocher | 18 |
| USA - Audrey McKeen | 30 |
| USA - Audrey McKeen | 35 |
| USA - Lily Jeakle | 57 |
| USA - Kate Kemmerley | 74 |
| USA - Kate Kemmerley (Anastasia Showler-Little) | 80 |
| USA - Lily Jeakle | 83 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Hannah Folliard; 2-Brynna Burrus (15-Ryana Dill, 60), 3-Olivia Robinson, 5-Vienna Whipple, 13-Marlee Raymond (4-Gracie Milam, 46); 6-Brooke Bunton (Capt.) (18-Riley Kennedy, 70), 8-Kamdyn Fuller (16-Brianna Concepcion, 60), 10-Ella Kral (20-Anastasia Showler-Little, 60); 11-Elayna Kocher (14-Kyndal Shuler, 70), 7-Audrey McKeen (17-Lily Jeakle, 46), 19-Kamiya Beck (9-Kate Kemmerley, 46)
Subs not used: 12-Cate Cantu
Head Coach: Toni Pressley
SWE: 1-Ellen Persson (12-Ella Agnekil, 46), 2- Filippa Graberg (14-Stella Lambertsson, 60), 4-Roos Huitzing (3-Ruth Sundquist, 75), 5-Hanna Lupton (17-Rebecca Jakobsson, 75), 6-Agnes Karlsson (16-Kajsa Lindroth, 60), 10-Livia Tapper, 13-Amilia Aurelius (Lia Tornstrom, 60), 18-Wilma Lundstrom (19-Emilia Svensson, 75), 20-Emilia Migas (8-Anna Linder, 46), 22-Astrid Forss (9-Mollie Josefsson, 46), 23-Elin Bengtsson (7-Hilda Ryd, 75)
Subs not used: 21-Adela Dautovic-rix, 11-Inez Torner
Head Coach: Annelie Noren
Stats Summary: USA / SWE
Shots: 22 / 0
Shots on Goal: 13 / 0
Saves: 0 / 5
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 4 / 9
Offside: 0 / 0
Officials:
Referee: Mireya Lopez Reche (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Lorena Hernandez Martinez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Maria Lafuente Hidalgo (ESP)
Fourth Official: Maria Navarro Cruz (ESP)
