U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team Draw Spain 1-1 to Finish Two Game-Set in Alicante
Lilah Helwig Equalizes in 89th Minute After Coming On 10 Minutes Earlier
ALICANTE, SPAIN (April 21, 2025) – The U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team bounced back from a 4-3 loss on April 19 to draw Spain 1-1 as forward Lilah Helwig equalized in the 89th minute.
It was her second goal of the trip after she scored in the first game vs. Spain as well, that one coming just five minutes into the match.
Forward Daphne Van Der Weide helped create the goal, winning a tackle in Spain’s defensive third. Helwig then dribbled into the penalty box before finishing low into the right corner.
Spain had taken the lead deep into first-half stoppage time on a score from Angeloa Galvez Castellano.
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 21, 2025
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano; Alicante, Spain
Weather: 68 degrees; Sunny with a few clouds
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| ESP | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| ESP – Angeloa Galvez Castellano (Claudia Sande Dominguez) | 45+3rd minute |
| USA – Lilah Helwig | 89 |
Lineups:
USA: 21-Malia Zillman; 13-Marin Kotschau (22-Emily Baxter, 46), 23-Brooklyn Vann, 16-Rachel Lawless-Felarca (4-Loradana Paletta, 59), 2-Kendra Hansen (3-Elena Vera, 50); 24-Gabrielle Johnson (10-Mia Corona, 46), 8-Grace Murray (6-Anaiah Williams, 59),15-Carolina Reyna (5-Taylor Morrell, 79); 7-Ella Stanislaus (17-Daphne Van der Weide, 79), 18-Maddie DiMaria (11-KK Ream, 46), 19-Amari Manning (9-Lilah Helwig, 79)
Subs not used: 14-Meila Brewer, 1-Brooke Volpp, 12-Lola Ta, 20-Camila Palafox
Head Coach: Ciara Crinion
ESP: 23-Goiatz Ferraz Ibarrondo; 4-Georgina Morrante Marquez (20-Maddi Martin Iglesias, 76), 15-Abril Diaz Martin, 3-Aliza Fernandez Exposito (17-Maialen Valladares Mesa, 66); 12-Angela Galvez Castellano (14-Elena Vizuete Cano, 76), 6-Avril Serrano Morreno (5-Abril Rius Sanchez, 90), 8-Laia Cabetas Mejias, 7-Ivet Franch Blanco; 11-Lidia Gibert Magdaleno (24-Claudia Sande Dominguez, 34) (10-Vera Molina Moleon, 90); 9-Maria Valladolid Cureil (19-Elsa Ayats Serrano, 66)
Subs not used: 21-Sara Perez Serrano, 16-Jana Muro Diaz, 18-Maria Rius Villamana, 1-Antia Veiga Carames, 13-Martina Campa Cuevas, 22-Eva Blanco Gonzalo
Head Coach: Laura del Rio Garcia
Stats Summary: USA / ESP
Shots: 9 / 14
Shots on Goal: 3 / 6
Saves: 5 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2 / 6
Fouls: 5 / 7
Offside: 6 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
ESP – Avril Serrano Moreno (Caution)13th minute
Officials:
Referee: Maria Romero Navarro (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Leticia Lorenzo Lista (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Raquel Garcia (ESP)
Fourth Official: Talia Arcos Navarro (ESP)