Armstrong, Sentnor Up For U.S. Soccer Young Female Player Of The Year

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For the second year in a row, two of the five nominees for U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year are Tar Heels. Current freshman Trinity Armstrong and former North Carolina standout Ally Sentnor are both nominated for the prestigious award.

This is the first Young Female Player of the Year nomination for Armstrong and the fourth for the 20-year-old Sentnor. Armstrong, who is 17 years old, is the only currently college player on the ballot.

Fans have the opportunity to vote for all end of year awards HERE. The fan vote will account for 15 percent of the overall vote tally, with the rest coming from National Team players, coaches, media and other constituents.

Voting opens on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. ET and goes through Dec. 13. The winners will be announced in January 2025.

A defender, Armstrong was a leader for the U.S. at the FIFA U17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic earlier this fall that earned bronze. She played every minute as part of a back line that allowed just one goal over the final five games of the tournament. She was one of four college players on the World Cup roster and now has 10 USYNT caps.

Despite only being in her freshman year, Armstrong has continued to show why she is regarded as one of the best defenders in the country. She has anchored UNC's back line which has kept its opponents to 7.7 shots per game and 3.8 shots on goal per game. Her first collegiate goal was the game-winner in the ACC Tournament semifinals.

Armstrong was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 24, the only true freshman to win the honor this year. She was also tabbed to both the All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Freshman Team, becoming the first Tar Heel to be named to the First Team and Freshman Team since 2017.

Sentnor finished 2024 by earning her first senior USWNT call-up after one of the most decorated WYNT careers in recent history, scoring at almost every youth level. She captained the U.S. squad which earned bronze at the U20 World Cup this fall, also taking home the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third-best player after scoring three goals.

The forward became the third Tar Heel to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the NWSL Draft, going to Utah Royals FC where she was a finalist for the NWSL Rookie of the Year.

During her two complete seasons at Carolina, Sentnor totaled 21 goals, nine assists and 51 points in 48 career appearances. She was named ACC Midfielder of the Year, United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America, United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Atlantic Region and All-ACC First Team in 2023.

Since its inception in 1998, eight Tar Heels have been named the Young Female Player of the Year by U.S. Soccer. The winners include inaugural award recipient and current U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow (1998), Lorrie Fair (1999), Lindsay Tarpley (2002), Catherine Reddick (2003), Heather O'Reilly (2004), Lori Chalupny (2005), Tobin Heath (2009) and Brianna Pinto (2019).

Twenty-two of the 26 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year winners have earned caps with the full USWNT, and 15 of them have gone on to play in a FIFA World Cup.

Additionally, four Tar Heels have combined for 11 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year honors: April Heinrichs (1986, 1989), Kristine Lilly (1993, 2005, 2006), Mia Hamm (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) and Heath (2016).

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Armstrong, Sentnor Up For U.S. Soccer Young Female Player Of The Year

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Trinity Armstrong

Ally Sentnor

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