Yael Averbuch

2010: Saw the most action of her national team career, playing in 10 matches while starting five and scoring one goal, that coming off a direct free kick against Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament … Played in three matches during Women’s World Cup qualifying, starting two … 2009: Earned her third senior team cap when she called upon to start at outside midfield against Germany in the USA’s 1-0 victory in October in Augsburg, which was her only match of the year … 2007: Earned her first two senior team caps, coming off the bench in two matches at the Four Nations Tournament in China, playing against England and China … Youth National Teams: Played for the USA at every level of the youth national teams … Played for the U.S. U-23s in 2008, captaining the USA to a Nordic Cup title in Sweden … Played on the U-16 WNT in 2002 and U-17 WNT in 2003 before joining the U-19 WNT in 2003 … Finished her U-19 career with 15 caps and two goals … A member of the U.S. team that finished third at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup in Thailand, where she played in two matches … Started three of the five matches at CONCACAF qualifying in Canada, scoring two goals with one assist … First Appearance: Jan. 28, 2007, vs. England ... First Goal: Nov. 1, 2010, vs. Costa Rica.

2011: Signed with the Western New York Flash … 2010: Played in 23 games for Sky Blue FC, starting 19 and scored one goal, that coming off a spectacular full volley … 2009: Taken in the first round, fourth overall, of the 2009 WPS Draft by her home state Sky Blue FC … Started 14 of the 18 games she played for SBFC … Didn’t score a goal, but helped the team to a fourth-place finish during the regular season and then played a key role in the Cinderella run to the WPS championship … Played every minute of all three playoff matches … Youth: Played for the Under-10 and Under-11 Monclair Kangaroos … Played on boys’ teams the next three years with the Under-12 and Under-13 Montclair Mavericks and the Under-14 Ramapo Wildcats … Joined the U-18 World Class club team at the age of 15 and played for them until she left for college … Won the Orange Classic with World Class in 2002, and were the 2003 state cup champions and regional semifinalists … In 2004 U-18s, World Class won state and regional titles … Was the youngest player ever to play with W-League, when she played with the NJ Stallions at the age of 14.

Started every game of her four-year career at North Carolina, setting an all-time team and NCAA record with 105 consecutive starts … She scored 32 goals with 29 assists for 93 career points … Her UNC jersey was retired in spring of 2009 … In December of 2008, she received the Top VIII Award as a senior, the most prestigious honor awarded by the NCAA, given annually to eight student-athletes who excel athletically, academically and in leadership and community service … In 2009, she received the Patterson Medal, the most prestigious award presented to student-athletes at the University of North Carolina … Was also the ESPN Academic All-American of the Year and NSCAA Scholar Athlete of the Year, both for 2008 … A two-year captain (2007-2008), she helped lead the Tar Heels to two NCAA National Championships (2006 and 2008) and was a member of the NCAA All-Tournament team both years … Won ACC titles during all four years of her college career and was a three-time NSCAA All-American, a three-time All-ACC selection and the 2006 ACC Offensive Player of the Year … Also a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist as junior … High School: Attended Montclair High School, but did not play high school soccer … A NSCAA All-American and USYSA All-American as a sophomore, junior and senior … Also a Parade All-American as a junior and senior.

Full name Yael Friedman Averbuch … Her middle name is her dad’s last name and her last name is her mom’s maiden name … Both parents are runners … Mom is the author of nine books, including her first soccer book, “Goal! The Ultimate Guide for Soccer Moms and Dads” … Also published a book with former U.S. Women’s National Team player Brandi Chastain titled “It’s Not About the Bra” … Has a younger sister, Shira, who plays soccer at Stanford … Her 55-yard goal for UNC just four seconds into a match against Yale is the fastest goal in women’s college soccer history and has well over 3 million hits on YouTube … Was the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s soccer in 2007 and 2008 … Is majoring in psychology and holds a 3.7 GPA … Active in community outreach programs, she was a member of the Carolina Leadership Academy’s Veteran Leaders program and was presented its highest honor, the Three-Dimensional Leader Award … Averbuch was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2006, joining a list of athletes that includes legends such as Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax and Olympic swimmer Dara Torres … An experienced public speaker, she has authored magazine and Internet articles on her soccer experiences and was first nationally published at age 12 … Writes a blog on her soccer experiences for The New York Times online.