University of North Carolina Athletics
Brianna Pinto is the 2019 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
Photo by: Rebecca Lawson
Pinto Named U.S. Soccer Young Female Player Of The Year
December 16, 2019 | Women's Soccer
CHICAGO --- Brianna Pinto has been voted the 2019 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, U.S. Soccer announced Monday. The Tar Heel sophomore tallied 11 goals and six assists in leading Carolina to the Women's College Cup final for the second straight season.
A veteran of the 2016 U-17 Women's World Cup and 2018 U-20 Women's World Cup, the skillful and physical midfielder appeared in seven matches for the U-20s this year, scoring against Germany and captaining the squad twice. She earned her second call-up to the senior WNT and first since 2017 when she was named to the roster for this December's Identification Camp in Florida.
At UNC, Pinto helped the Tar Heels to a 24-1-2 record while earning All-American and All-ACC honors. She started all 27 games she played for Carolina on the year, scoring 11 goals and adding six assists to finish second on the team in scoring.
"I feel extremely grateful to have been a part of U.S. Soccer since I was 12-years-old when I went to U-14 ID camp," said Pinto. "The Federation has given me so many opportunities to travel the world, learn the game and build incredible relationships along the way. This experience has not only shaped me as a soccer player but allowed me to experience different cultures around the world and has given me a great appreciation for the opportunities that American female soccer players are given. To be selected as the Young Player of the Year is humbling and a huge honor, especially looking at all the great players that have earned this award before. I know I still have a long way to go as a player, but I'm super excited for any opportunities that are ahead and I'm incredibly thankful for all of my teammates and coaches, and my entire family, who have been with me on this journey."
Votes for Player of the Year awards are collected from National Team coaches, National Team players who earned a cap in 2019, U.S. professional league head coaches, select media members as well as former players and administrators. Players cannot win the Young Male or Young Female award more than once. Sergiño Dest was named the 2019 Young Male Player of the Year and Nick Mayhugh was named the 2019 Player With A Disability of the Year.
The Young Male and Young Female Player of the Year honors were first awarded in 1998, with Josh Wolff and Cindy Parlow winning the inaugural awards. The Disabled Player of the Year was first awarded in 2012, with Felici Schroeder receiving the honor.
-ussoccer.com-
A veteran of the 2016 U-17 Women's World Cup and 2018 U-20 Women's World Cup, the skillful and physical midfielder appeared in seven matches for the U-20s this year, scoring against Germany and captaining the squad twice. She earned her second call-up to the senior WNT and first since 2017 when she was named to the roster for this December's Identification Camp in Florida.
At UNC, Pinto helped the Tar Heels to a 24-1-2 record while earning All-American and All-ACC honors. She started all 27 games she played for Carolina on the year, scoring 11 goals and adding six assists to finish second on the team in scoring.
"I feel extremely grateful to have been a part of U.S. Soccer since I was 12-years-old when I went to U-14 ID camp," said Pinto. "The Federation has given me so many opportunities to travel the world, learn the game and build incredible relationships along the way. This experience has not only shaped me as a soccer player but allowed me to experience different cultures around the world and has given me a great appreciation for the opportunities that American female soccer players are given. To be selected as the Young Player of the Year is humbling and a huge honor, especially looking at all the great players that have earned this award before. I know I still have a long way to go as a player, but I'm super excited for any opportunities that are ahead and I'm incredibly thankful for all of my teammates and coaches, and my entire family, who have been with me on this journey."
Votes for Player of the Year awards are collected from National Team coaches, National Team players who earned a cap in 2019, U.S. professional league head coaches, select media members as well as former players and administrators. Players cannot win the Young Male or Young Female award more than once. Sergiño Dest was named the 2019 Young Male Player of the Year and Nick Mayhugh was named the 2019 Player With A Disability of the Year.
The Young Male and Young Female Player of the Year honors were first awarded in 1998, with Josh Wolff and Cindy Parlow winning the inaugural awards. The Disabled Player of the Year was first awarded in 2012, with Felici Schroeder receiving the honor.
-ussoccer.com-
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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