Yael Averbuch

U.S. National Team – 2012: Did not play in a U.S. WNT match …  2011: Played in three matches off the bench, all at Four Nations Tournament in China … Traveled to the Algarve Cup in Portugal, but did not see action … 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 was 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 and first career start … She had the cross that eventually led to the game-winning goal from Abby Wambach in that match … 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.

Professional / Club – 2012: Signed with Göteborg FC in the Swedish First Division in September of 2012 and played in 16 total matches (10 in the Damallsvenskan, four Champions League matches and two Swedish Cup matches), starting 15 of those games … She scored seven goals, six in the Damallsvenskan and one in Champions League against Fortuna Hjørring of Denmark ... 2011: Had a brief stint in Russia with WFC Rossiyanka after the end of the 2011 WPS season, joining the team for the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League … She made two appearances against Germany's Turbine Potsdam in the Champions League before returning to the USA … Signed with the Western New York Flash in WPS and played in 14 matches, helping the squad to the championship in the final year of the league … She converted the fifth penalty in the shootout that turned out to be the winning kick when Ashlyn Harris saved the Philadelphia Independence’s fifth attempt … 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.

College / High School – 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. 

Personal – 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 played 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 over 4 million hits on YouTube … Was the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s soccer in 2007 and 2008 … Majored in psychology and had a 3.7 GPA … Was active in community outreach programs, 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 … An excellent writer, she has penned a blog on her soccer experiences for The New York Times online.