The 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship features eight nations divided into two groups of four teams. The United States has won four consecutive CONCACAF championships and opens group play on Friday, January 19, kicking off against Nicaragua at 5:30 p.m. ET.
"It's really exciting for Abi to be selected to represent the U.S. in the qualifying stages of the World Cup," said Cal head coach Neil McGuire. "She has worked so hard to get to this point and will be a valuable member of the squad. We are very proud of her."
No stranger to the international scene, Kim has scored three goals in 11 appearances for the U-20 U.S Women's National team and recently added two assists against Finland in the 2017 Nike Friendlies this past December in Florida. The Vashon, Washington product was previously a member of the Under-18 U.S. Women's National Team and scored the game-winning goal in friendlies vs England (1-0) and Norway (1-0).
Kim's call-up comes on the heels of another productive season in Berkeley, in which she earned Second Team All-Pac-12 honors. Tied for the team lead with seven goals on the season, Kim more than doubled her goal total in her sophomore campaign while helping the Golden Bears to their 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Kim finished the season with three-game winning goals and was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week following the opening weekend of the 2017 season in which she scored three goals and set up the game-winning penalty in Cal's 2-1 victory over No. 24 Santa Clara.
Kim is one of several Golden Bears to earn time with the U.S. Women's National Teams this winter. Freshman Emily Smith, who played in the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and earned All-Region honors as a freshman, trained with the U-18 Women's National Team in San Diego while classmate Luca Deza joined Kim at U-20 training camp in mid-November. Senior All-Americans Emily Boyd and Indigo Gibson and former standout Alex Morgan are currently training at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California. Boyd and Gibson are wrapping up camp with the Under-23 Women's National Team while Morgan, the reigning CONCACAF Women's Player of the Year, is in with the full national team in preparation for a friendly against Denmark.
For more updates and information and updates throughout the year, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWSoc).
2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship (Group B Schedule – USA)
| Date | Match | Kickoff (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 19 | USA vs Nicaragua | 5:30 p.m. | Ato Boldon Stadium; Couva, Trinidad |
| Jan. 21 | USA vs Jamaica | 6:30 p.m. | Ato Boldon Stadium; Couva, Trinidad |
| Jan. 23 | USA vs Mexico | 3:00 p.m. | Ato Boldon Stadium; Couva, Trinidad |
2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Roster (College or Club; Hometown; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (2): Laurel Ivory (Virginia; Surfside, Fla.; 5/0), Amanda McGlynn (Virginia Tech; Jacksonville, Fla.; 2/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Tierna Davidson (Stanford; Menlo Park, Calif.; 6/0), Naomi Girma (California Thorns FC; 6/0; San Jose, Calif.), Tara McKeown (USC; Mission Viejo, Calif.; 11/0), Zoe Morse (Virginia; East Lansing, Mich.; 9/0), Kiara Pickett (Stanford; Santa Barbara, Calif.; 2/0), Isabel Rodriguez (Ohio State; Canton, Mich.; 8/0), Karina Rodriguez (UCLA; Torrance, Calif.; 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Samantha Coffey (Boston College; Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.; 7/1), Savannah DeMelo (USC; Bellflower, Calif.; 23/4), Jaelin Howell (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.; 12/0), Brianna Pinto (NTH Tophat; Durham, N.C.; 9/0), Viviana Villacorta (UCLA; Lawndale, Calif.; 10/1)
FORWARDS (6): Abi Kim (California; Vashon, Wash.; 11/3), Civana Kuhlmann (Stanford; Littleton, Colo.; 12/8), Ashley Sanchez (UCLA; Monrovia, Calif.; 20/6), Sophia Smith (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.; 11/8), Taryn Torres (Virginia; Frisco, Texas; 3/1), Kelsey Turnbow (Santa Clara; Scottsdale, Ariz.; 8/2)