Video: Mallory Pugh in high school
See how the decorated US Women's National Team player rose to prominence.
The FIFA Women's World Cup has finally arrived with action beginning today in France. The United States Women's National Team enters as favorites to repeat as champions after a scintillating 5-2 victory over Japan in 2015. The U.S. team begins play June 11 against Thailand.
While Julie Ertz, Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald and Lindsey Horan never played high school soccer, many on the USWNT had impressive high school careers filled with an abundance of accolades and success.
Below, we ranked the Top 10 high school soccer careers of United States Women's National Team members.
1. Morgan Brian, Frederica Academy (St. Simons Island, Ga.)Over her incredible
high school career Brian accumulated 185 goals and 95 assists to lead her team to four consecutive state championships. She was twice named Georgia Player of the Year and became the first
soccer player to win the Gatorade National Athlete of the Year in 2011. She
was also an All-State basketball player.
Became the first female to be named a Parade Magazine All-American four consecutive times as the talented keeper recorded 50 shutouts in 65 career games. The 2004 graduate won Gatorade National Player of the Year and NSCAA Player of the Year as a senior and led the Scorpions to a pair of state titles during her sophomore and junior years.
Set a school record with 38 goals as a junior, finishing her illustrious career with 128 goals as a four-year starter. The 2006 NSCAA and Parade Magazine All-American led Chadwick to two CIF Southern Section Division IV titles and was twice named Southern Section Division IV Offensive Player of the Year. Press also lettered in tennis and track and field.
Although she's carved out a role as a defender on the women's national team, Sonnett was a prolific goal-scorer in high school. Ending her career with 113 goals and 41 assists, she led the Paladins to a state championship during her senior year in 2012. She was also named Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year that season.
Finished off her decorated high school career with three state championships, three first team All-State selections and two undefeated seasons in which the Cyclones finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by NSCAA. Dunn lost two games in her prep career and ended with 46 goals and 35 assists, winning New York Gatorade Player of the Year in 2009.
Despite not playing her senior year of high school soccer, Pugh won back-to-back NSCAA National Player of the Year awards in 2014 and 2015 and finished with 47 goals and 23 assists. While she was unable to capture a state title after her freshman year, her junior season was by far her best. She finished that season with 24 goals and 12 assists and won Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Wrapped up a strong high school career with four All-State selections, two Parade Magazine and NSCAA All-American selections and 2006 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year. O'Hara guided the Panthers to a state championship as a senior, finishing a strong year with 20 goals and 16 assists. She also helped Starr's Mill to a state runner-up finish as a sophomore.
Two-time Parade Magazine All-American finished her four-year career with 77 goals, 34 assists and back-to-back Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year awards. Mewis produced 30 goals and eight assists as a senior and earned NSCAA National Player of the Year in 2010.
The 36 year-old USMNT veteran played for the Bears from 1997-2000. She was named two-time Philadelphia Inquirer Player of the Year and two-time Parade Magazine All-American — finishing with 26 goals and eight assists as a senior in Delran's state runner-up finish.
Had an incredible two-year run as a sophomore and junior that gave her the nod for the final spot, producing 45 goals and 39 assists during her best two seasons. She was named West Bay Athletic League MVP twice and led Sacred Heart Prep to back-to-back CIF Central Coast Section champions.
Mallory Pugh, Highlands Ranch
File photo by Ray Chen
