CHICAGO (May 14, 2007) - The U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team won both of its matches in England, downing the Leeds Ladies, 3-1, on May 10 as forward Melissa Henderson tallied twice and Gina DiMartino added a single score, and defeated the Blackburn Ladies, 2-0, on May 12 as forward Whitney Hooper got a goal and an assist and midfielder Teresa Noyola add the other goal.

The U-20s were supposed to play the first match on May 8 against the Everton Ladies, but the game was cancelled due to an unplayable field.

Against Leeds, the 18-year-old Henderson scored in the 13th minute off an assist from Noyola, before making it 2-0 in the 39th minute, this time off a feed from midfielder Michelle Enyeart, who also assisted on the USA's third goal. Leeds pulled a goal back just before halftime but DiMartino, the younger sister of former U.S. U-20 and current U.S. U-21 Tina DiMartino, put the game away with a goal in the 74th minute.

The USA dominated Blackburn, out-shooting them 25-3, but could not find the net until the 72nd minute when Hooper scored off an assist from Hendreson. Noyola, one of the youngest players on the roster, put the game away in the 80th minute, this time off an assist from Hooper.

U.S. head coach Jillian Ellis is preparing the team for the Pan-American Games to be held in July in Brazil, as well as qualifying for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, to be held at the end of next year in Chile. CONCACAF qualifying will be sometime in the second quarter of 2008.

U.S. U-20 WNT Schedule
Date       Opponent                  Result          U.S. Goal Scorers
May 8     Everton Ladies         Cancelled    n/a
May 10   Leeds Ladies           3-2 W            Melissa Henderson (2), Gina DiMartino
May 12   Blackburn Ladies    2-0 W            Whitney Hooper, Teresa Noyola

U.S. U-20 WNT Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Chantel Jones (Virginia); Alyssa Naeher (Penn State);
DEFENDERS (4): Kelly Henderson (Boston College), Nicole Ketchum (Texas A & M), Nikki Marshall (Colorado), Carly Peetz (Nebraska);
MIDFIELDERS (5): Kaley Fountain (Wake Forest), Ali Hawkins (UNC), Whitney Hooper (Texas A & M), Teresa Noyola (MVLA Mercury), Kylie Wright (So CalBlues);
FORWARDS (7): Gina DiMartino (Boston College), Ashlee Elliott (Florida),Michelle Enyeart (Portland), Rachel Given (Ridgeland, Miss.), Melissa Henderson (Dallas Texans), Alicia Jenkins (Stanford), Jessica McDonald (Phoenix College).