Wikipedia

Ally Sentnor

Allyson Marie Sentnor (born February 18, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder or forward for the Utah Royals of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels before being picked first overall by the Royals in the 2024 NWSL Draft. Sentnor played for the youth national team at every age level and captained the under-20 team to bronze at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Ally Sentnor
Sentnor with North Carolina in 2023
Personal information
Full name Allyson Marie Sentnor[1]
Date of birth (2004-02-18) February 18, 2004 (age 20)[1]
Height 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
 Utah Royals
Number 9
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 North Carolina Tar Heels 48 (21)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Utah Royals 16 (3)
International career‡
United States U15
United States U16
2018–2019 United States U17 4 (3)
2019 United States U18 2 (2)
2022– United States U20 20 (11)
Medal record
Women's soccer
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Bronze medal – third place Colombia 2024
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 29, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 11, 2024

Early life and college career

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Sentnor grew up in Hanson, Massachusetts, in Boston's South Shore, the oldest of three children born to Richard and Lee Sentnor.[2][3] She began playing soccer at age four, and her father coached her first team.[4] She scored so often as a kid that her father would put her in goal or let her score only with her non-dominant left foot, which helped her develop equal comfort off both feet.[5][6] She joined Hingham club South Shore Select at age six and later trained at times with the Boston Bolts boys' team.[5][7] She also played the indoor soccer variant of futsal, which helped develop her touch in limited space.[8][9] She joined the varsity team at Thayer Academy in eighth grade and graduated early in 2021.[5][10]

North Carolina Tar Heels

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Sentnor playing for North Carolina in 2023

Sentnor tore her ACL minutes into her first preseason game for the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2021.[11][12] She got back onto the college field in 2022, scoring on her regular-season debut against Wilmington.[13] In her redshirt freshman season, she won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title and ended the year with ten goals, the second most on the team.[2][14] She scored five of her goals during the NCAA tournament to help North Carolina reach the national title game, where they lost to UCLA. She was named to the All-ACC first team and national all-tournament team.[2]

Sentnor contributed a team-high eleven goals and seven assists in the 2023 season.[2] She scored or assisted in each of her last seven college games, including four goals and three assists in four games of the NCAA tournament, and was involved in all three of her team's goals in their national quarterfinal loss to BYU.[2][15] She was named the ACC Midfielder of the Year, first-team All-ACC, and third-team United Soccer Coaches All-American.[16] Despite turning professional after the season, she continued studying online to complete her degree in 2024.[17]

Club career

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Utah Royals

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Sentnor was selected first overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft by the Utah Royals, who were returning to the NWSL after a four-year absence; she and North Carolina teammate Savy King were the top two picks.[18] She was signed to a three-year contract.[19] She debuted in the starting lineup of the opening matchday against the Chicago Red Stars on March 16.[20] She scored her first professional goal on March 22, shooting from the corner of the penalty box off a long dribble in a 2–1 home win over the North Carolina Courage.[21] She was deployed as a winger at the start of the season, scoring or assisting on five of her team's first seven goals, before moving to a more playmaking role as an attacking midfielder at the end of June.[22][23] In the month of July, she was named both NWSL Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month after leading the bottom-of-the-league Royals to win their group in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.[24] She finished her rookie season with 3 goals and 4 assists in 21 games as the Royals placed 10th out of 14 teams.[25] She was named the club's Offensive Player of the Year and was one of three players nominated for NWSL Rookie of the Year.[26][27]

International career

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Sentnor was selected to the train with the United States under-14 team at the age of 12 in June 2016, the youngest player called into camp.[28] At age 13, she scored five goals in two friendlies for the under-15s in Germany in November 2017.[7][29] She also played for the under-16s that year and was under consideration for the roster for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, but ultimately not selected to join players three years above her age group.[7] She was the most valuable player of the invitational Weifang Cup at the under-15 level in China in 2018.[30] She was the youngest player for under-18 team when she scored two goals in two friendlies against England in 2019.[31] She was part of the under-17 team at the start of 2020, but her age group's CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship and FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

Following her ACL recovery, Sentnor made her under-20 debut at the 2022 Sud Ladies Cup, which the United States won.[7] She was one of the younger players selected to the national team for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She appeared in all three group stage games and scored in their opening 3–0 win against Ghana.[7] The next year, she co-captained the under-20s with Elise Evans at the 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. She scored four goals during the tournament, helping the United States finish runners-up to Mexico and qualify for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[7][32]

Wearing the captain's armband, Sentnor led the United States to third place at the U-20 Women's World Cup, the country's best result since 2012.[33][34] She scored her second of three goals at the tournament in a 3–2 overtime win against Mexico in the first knockout round.[35] In the quarterfinals, trailing Germany 2–0, the United States came back in the last moments of regulation with a goal from Jordynn Dudley and an own goal forced by Sentnor in the 90+8th and 90+9th minutes; in a penalty shootout, Sentnor converted her opening kick as the United States advanced.[36] After falling to eventual champions North Korea in the semifinals, Sentnor opened scoring in the third-place match, a 2–1 victory over the Netherlands.[34] She was awarded the Bronze Ball as the third-most outstanding player of the tournament.[37]

Head coach Emma Hayes gave Sentnor her first senior national team call-up on November 18, 2024, ahead of international friendlies against England and the Netherlands.[38]

Awards and honors

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North Carolina Tar Heels

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022 – Squad List" (PDF). FIFA. p. 16. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Ally Sentnor – Women's Soccer". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (September 5, 2018). "Thayer Academy freshman Ally Sentnor carries sky-high potential". New England Soccer Journal. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Funayama, Naoko (January 12, 2024). "Mass. soccer star is top draft pick in women's soccer league". WCVB-TV. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Touri, Amin (March 13, 2024). "How Hanson's Ally Sentnor, the NWSL's top draft pick, became 'destined for greatness'". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Musarurwa, Kudzi (April 5, 2024). "Ally Sentnor wants to make impactful plays whenever she can for the Utah Royals". All for XI. SB Nation. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Ally Sentnor's First CONCACAF". United States Soccer Federation. May 22, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Monroe, Noah (October 2, 2023). "Top-scorer Ally Sentnor leads UNC women's soccer to 4–0 win at N.C. State". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  9. ^ Bachman, Rachel (August 4, 2023). "U.S. Women's Soccer Is Struggling. Thinking Small Could Help". Archived from the original on August 18, 2023.
  10. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (November 18, 2020). "Ally Sentnor accelerates graduation timeline, joins UNC's Class of 2021". New England Soccer Journal. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Ferris, Sammy (April 11, 2022). "A victory off the field: UNC women's soccer star's campaign for recovery". UNC Media Hub. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  12. ^ Koh, Michael (September 19, 2022). "'A Long Trek Back': UNC's Ally Sentnor Returns to the Pitch After ACL Injury". Chapelboro.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Ware, Lindsey. "Ally Sentnor makes her 'poetic return' to UNC women's soccer in victory over UNCW". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Wills, Caroline (October 27, 2022). "UNC women's soccer clinches ACC regular season title with 2-0 victory over Louisville". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Wei, Daniel (January 6, 2024). "UNC women's soccer midfielder Ally Sentnor to pursue professional career". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "Patterson, Sentnor Nab United Soccer Coaches All-America Honors". University of North Carolina Athletics. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  17. ^ Quinn, Ethan (March 13, 2024). "#GDTBATH: Ally Sentnor". University of North Carolina. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "Utah Royals FC pick UNC's Ally Sentnor first overall in NWSL draft". ESPN. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  19. ^ "Former UNC Standout Signs With Utah Royals FC". Utah Royals. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  20. ^ Funayama, Naoko (March 20, 2024). "Massachusetts native reflects on her professional soccer debut". WCVB-TV. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  21. ^ Rantz, Susie (March 23, 2024). "Expansion Utah wins first NWSL match 2–1 over North Carolina. Angel City and Orlando play to 1–1 tie". Associated Press. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  22. ^ Musururwa, Kudzi (August 23, 2024). "Ally Sentnor wants to keep having fun when she plays". All for XI. SB Nation. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  23. ^ OptaJack⚽️ [@OptaJack] (June 17, 2024). "5 – Ally Sentnor has been directly involved ..." (Tweet). Retrieved August 8, 2024 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ a b c "Utah Royals Forward Ally Sentnor Named July Player of the Month, Presented by EA SPORTS and July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League. August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  25. ^ "2024 Utah Royals Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  26. ^ "Utah Royals FC Announce End of Season Awards". Utah Royals. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  27. ^ "URFC Goalkeeper Mandy Haught, Forward Ally Sentnor Finalists For 2024 NWSL Awards". Utah Royals. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  28. ^ "Ally Sentnor selected to attend the US U14 Girls' National Training Camp in Colorado". South Shore Select. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  29. ^ Scavuzzo, Diane (November 4, 2017). "U.S. U15 Girls National Team Win Twice in Germany". SoccerToday. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  30. ^ "U.S. U-15 GNT earns three-game sweep at CFA Tournament in China". United States Soccer Federation. August 31, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2023 – via SoccerWire.
  31. ^ "U.S. U-18 WNT Draws 2–2 with England in First of Two Matches to Start New Cycle". United States Soccer Federation. February 23, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  32. ^ "U.S. U-20 Women's Youth National Team Falls to Mexico 2–1 in Hard-Fought CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Final". United States Soccer Federation. June 4, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
    Langone, Matt (June 12, 2023). "Ally Sentnor reflects on success with U.S. U-20 team, comeback from injury". New England Soccer Journal. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  33. ^ "Ally Sentnor Scores as U.S. U-20 Women's Youth National Team Defeats Colombia, 1-0, In Bogotá to Sweep Two-Game Series Against 2024 FIFA U-20 WWC Hosts". United States Soccer Federation. February 28, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  34. ^ a b "USA Scores Dramatic 119th-Minute Game-Winner To Defeat The Netherlands 2-1 And Finish Third At 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup". United States Soccer Federation. September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  35. ^ "USA Advances to Quarterfinals of 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia with Dramatic 3-2 Overtime Win Over Mexico as Forward Jordynn Dudley Scores Game-Winner in 97th Minute". United States Soccer Federation. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  36. ^ Sylvs, Southern (September 16, 2024). "Extra! Extra! The Kids are Alright: A FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Recap". All for XI. SB Nation. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  37. ^ a b "Choe Il-son leads FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup award winners". FIFA. September 22, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  38. ^ McHugh, Eric (November 18, 2024). "Local soccer star called up to U.S. Women's National Team". The Enterprise. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  39. ^ Lukpat, Alyssa (December 19, 2019). "Meet the Hanson soccer star, 15, crowned Sports Illustrated's SportsKid of the Year". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023.
  40. ^ NWSL (August 9, 2024). "NWSL Announces July Best XI of the Month, Presented by Amazon Prime". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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