María Sánchez (footballer)

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Not to be confused with Maria Sanchez.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Morales.
María Sánchez
MariaSanchez (40675825511).jpg
Sánchez in 2016
Personal information
Full name María Guadalupe Sánchez Morales[1]
Date of birth (1996-02-20) 20 February 1996 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth Nampa, Idaho, United States[2]
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Houston Dash
Number 7
Youth career
2010–2013 American Falls HS
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Idaho State Bengals 37 (22)
2017–2018 Santa Clara Broncos 42 (13)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Chicago Red Stars 7 (0)
2020 Guadalajara 21 (5)
2021 UANL 46 (14)
2021 → Houston Dash (loan) 3 (1)
2022– Houston Dash 0 (0)
National team‡
2010 Mexico U17
2015–2016 Mexico U20 4 (1)
2015– Mexico 33 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 January 2022[3]

María Guadalupe Sánchez Morales (born 20 February 1996) is an American-born Mexican footballer who plays as a forward for the Houston Dash and for the Mexico women's national team.

Sánchez played soccer at Idaho State University, before leaving the University in April 2016.[4] She played for Santa Clara University in 2017 and 2018. The Chicago Red Stars selected her with the sixth pick of the second round (fifteenth overall) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft. After the 2019 NWSL season she signed with Guadalajara of the Liga MX Femenil for 2020. In 2021 she signed with Tigres UANL who won the 2021 Clausura title. In summer 2021 she had a month-long loan to the Houston Dash, who later signed her for 2022.

Sánchez was a member of the Mexico women's national football team for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Early life and high school[]

Sánchez is the daughter of Roberto Sánchez and Irene Morales, both born in Mexico, who in 2015 were employed at a potato processing plant in American Falls, Idaho. No club team was locally available, nor could her parents afford the costs of enrolling her on an elite club team, so Sánchez played only high school soccer.[5][6] Sánchez was a four-year letter-winner at American Falls High School. She was the scoring leader in the state of Idaho in all four years, scoring 26, 34, 50, and 78 goals in her freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years. Her number was retired by American Falls High School.[7]

College career[]

Idaho State University[]

Despite her high school record, Sánchez lacked participation in elite competition, and Idaho State University was the only university that offered her a scholarship. She played for Idaho State in 2014 and 2015. As a freshman in 2014, she scored seven goals and led the team and conference with 8 assists. She was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team. In her sophomore year, for a team that had a record of one win, one tie, and 15 losses, she scored 15 goals and had 4 assists in 17 games. She was named to the All-Conference team.[8]

Controversy[]

In April 2016, Sánchez announced she was leaving Idaho State University to seek a more "competitive environment." Idaho State denied her permission to contact other universities because it alleged a third party was assisting her, contrary to NCAA rules. About 50 university teams had expressed interest in her, but Idaho State denied her request to communicate with five universities, all major women's soccer powers.[9] Idaho State alleged that those five schools had communicated with Sánchez without permission. Sánchez responded by saying that Idaho State University was blocking her soccer career. Idaho State University subsequently granted her request to contact Santa Clara University and South Florida University.[10] Nothing further was heard about the alleged NCAA violation.

Santa Clara University[]

Sánchez enrolled at Santa Clara in January 2017 and played soccer for the University in fall 2017. She appeared in all 23 games of the soccer season and scored five goals and tied for the West Coast Conference lead with six assists.[11] In the 2018 season Sánchez appeared in 19 games and scored eight goals.[12] She had 16 assists, first among players in all NCAA Division I colleges and universities.[13]

Club career[]

Chicago Red Stars[]

On January 11, 2019, Sánchez was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League.[14] She made seven appearances with the club.

Guadalajara[]

On 13 December 2019, Sánchez was announced by Liga MX Femenil club CD Guadalajara as their next signing on loan, for the Clausura 2020.[15] She wore number 7 for Chivas. At the end of the Apertura 2020 it was announced that Sánchez was one of several players who would leave the club.[16]

Tigres UANL[]

Sánchez signed with Tigres UANL for 2021 and helped the team win the Clausura 2021. After she was loaned to Houston for June, she returned for the Apertura 2020 in which UANL reached the final and lost in a shootout. The club posted a farewell video on December 22 and Sánchez replied with gratitude for her to fulfill her "dreams."[17]

Houston Dash[]

June 2021 loan[]

In March 2021 Houston Dash acquired Sánchez's NWSL rights from Chicago in exchange for Houston's second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft.[18] She signed for a month long loan from Tigres, in June 2021, and scored her first goal in the league in a 2-1 victory over the Orlando Pride.[19] Although her loan ended, Houston retained her NWSL rights.

2022 Season[]

Prior to the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft the Dash released a list of 9 protected players that included "a contracted international player who has not yet been announced."[20] The NWSL released the same list but named Sánchez as that player, although her contract signing would not be officially announced until 2022.[21] On January 6, the Dash announced that Sánchez had been signed to a two-year contact. “Joining the Dash is such a privilege for me,” Sánchez said. “It’s getting another shot at my dream, and I couldn’t be more excited to do it with a team and coaching staff that I have tremendous respect for!”[3]

International career[]

In 2015, Sánchez's coach at Idaho State told her about a tryout for the Mexican U-20 women's team. She made the team and after good performances was invited to join the Mexican women's soccer team for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was the second youngest player on the World Cup team.[22] Sánchez played as a midfielder in one match, a loss to England, in the World Cup.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "List of Players – 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Las Mediocampistas de la Selección Femenil que Participarán en la Copa Mundial de Canadá 2015". Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, A.C. (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Houston Dash sign Mexican forward María Sánchez from UANL Tigres". Houston Dash. 6 January 2022.
  4. ^ jpapworth@journalnet.com, Jeff Papworth. "Maria Sanchez accuses ISU of blocking her soccer career".
  5. ^ "Idaho State star creas surprising path to Worl Cup". The Idaho Statesman. 2015-06-04. pp. A8. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  6. ^ "Sanchez (continued from A8". The Idaho Statesman. 2015-06-04. pp. A10. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  7. ^ "Maria Sanchez", http://www.santaclarabroncos.com/sports/w-soccer/2017-18/bios/sanchez_maria_dsb1, accessed 17 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Maria Sanchez - 2015 Women's Soccer" http://www.isubengals.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4371, accessed 17 January 2018.
  9. ^ "ISU alleges NCAA violations in response to Sanchez situation," (June 12, 2016), Idaho State Journal, https://idahostatejournal.com/pocatello/isu-alleges-ncaa-violations-in-response-to-sanchez-situation/article_90c79dc6-30f2-520c-ae77-e32625b86843.html, accessed 17 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Maria Sanchez accuses Idaho State University of blocking her soccer career" (June 9, 2016), https://idahostatejournal.com/members/maria-sanchez-accuses-isu-of-blocking-her-soccer-career/article_77ef3616-4fe2-54b7-8641-4fb629653bb6.html, accessed 17 January 2018.
  11. ^ Santa Clara-Maria Sanchez" http://www.santaclarabroncos.com/sports/w-soccer/2017-18/bios/sanchez_maria_dsb1, accessed 17 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Maria Sanchez," [1], accessed 24 Nov 2018
  13. ^ "NCAA Stats," [2], accessed 24 Nov 2018
  14. ^ "NWSL Welcomes New Players in Chicago," [3], accessed 11 Jan 2019
  15. ^ @ChivasFemenil (13 December 2019). "