U.S. U-16 Girls National Team defeats England 2-0 in first of two friendlies

RIVERSIDE, MO – The U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team got a goal in each half to defeat England, 2-0 in the first two matches between the teams.

In the first international match at this age level for this group of 2011-born U-16 GNT players, the USA got a goal from midfielder Aubrey Taylor in the 23rd minute and a clincher from midfielder Harper St. James in the 71st. This age group is in preparation for qualifying for the 2028 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The teams will meet again on Oct. 30 (11:30 a.m. CT) at Riverside Stadium at KC Current Sports Complex in Riverside, Mo.

The first goal came after a build up from the back. Defender Bonnie Earl cut inside to break a line and played to forward Olivia Jones, who touched the ball back to midfielder Olivia Winters. She then sent the ball into the path of right winger Michelle Myers, who dribbled past her defender into the penalty box and served a cross that was parried by the goalkeeper. The ball bounced into the path of Taylor, who headed into an open goal from five yards out.

The USA doubled its lead with a little less than 20 minutes left in regulation time when defender Brynn Buchanan intercepted a deep pass and played the ball wide to her center back partner McKenna Kann, who sent an inch-perfect 50-yard diagonal pass to the feet of forward Lyla Charlet on the halfway line. Charlet played the ball to forward Alaia Harrington, who was a halftime substitute, and she used all her strength to hold off her defender while fullback Aniah Zembrodt made an overlapping run. Harrington then laid the ball off to Zembrodt, who launched Charlet into a one-on-one in the left wide channel. Charlet cut inside and occupied four defenders, which left St. James’ deep run into the box unmarked. Charlet then found St. James with a vertical pass, after which she cut inside on her defender, faked a shot, and then curled a precise finish into the far corner side netting from 12 yards out.

The goals marked the first for both players at the U-16 international level.

The camp and 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-16 GIRLS’ NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team vs. England Under-16 GNT
Date: October 27, 2026
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: The University of Kansas Health Systems Training Center Riverside Stadium; Riverside, Mo.
Attendance: 85  
Weather: 70 degrees, Sunny

Lineups:

USA: 1-Sophia Thompson (21-Paige Miles, 69); 15-Bonnie Earl (2-Claire Hansen, 55), 4-Cambria Williams (20-McKenna Kann, 46), 5-Erin Gonzalez (22-Brynn Buchanan, 46), 3-Khloe Smith (13-Aniah Zembrodt, 69); 18-Olivia Winters (8-Marley Skalski, 55), 6-Angelica Alzugaray (Capt.) (16-Lilia Bhuta, 69), 10-Aubrey Taylor (24-Harper St. James, 46); 17-Michelle Myers (7-Ari Hodge, 69), 9-Olivia Jones (23-Alaia Harrington, 46, 19-Saige Scarborough, 75), 14-Kate Cintron (11-Lyla Charlet, 55)

Subs not used: 12-Gwyneth Provost

Head Coach: Becky Edwards

ENG: 1-Kendall Taylor (22-Emily Alsop, 67); 2-Sydney Baker (Capt.) (12-Katie Bewick, 60), 3-Sienna Bowen (18-Aleks Liddell-Michovski, 46), 5-Sadie Jenner (17-Vanessa Komarnicka, 67), 6-Jessica Pullan (15-Mabel Iwelu, 60); 4-Naile Yemeru (19-Olivia Day, 46), 8-Eden Capon (16-Brooke Markland, 67), 10-Emily Brookes (14-Ava Renee Lee-Batson, 69); 7-Jamila Toure (23-Elise Campbell, 46), 9-Victoria Jones (21-Ffion Davies, 60), 11-Amilia Cocorullo

Subs not used: 13-Imogen Forster, 20-Nieve Childs

Head Coach: Carly Davies

Statistical Summary: USA / ENG
Shots: 10 / 2
Shots on Goal: 9 / 2
Saves: 2 / 7
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 5 / 5
Offside: 0 / 0

Officials:
Referee: Dilyn Davis (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Emily Brownback (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Anna Wawrzyniak (USA)
4th Official: Aaron Middaugh (USA)