Madeline Grace Dahlien (born July 25, 2004) is an American college soccer player who plays as a forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels. A two-sport athlete in high school, Dahlien won multiple Minnesota state track and field championships at Edina High School. She won bronze with the United States at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
_18.jpg) Dahlien with North Carolina in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Madeline Grace Dahlien[1] | ||
| Date of birth | July 25, 2004[2] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Center forward, winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | North Carolina Tar Heels | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | North Carolina Tar Heels | 60 | (6) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023–2024 | United States U-20 | 15 | (6) |
Medal record | |||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 21, 2024 | |||
Early life
editDahlien was raised in Edina, Minnesota.[1] She played for Edina Soccer Club before high school, when she joined Minnesota Thunder Academy, the state's only team in the Elite Clubs National League, and was named an All-American in 2020–21.[3][4] She attended Edina High School, where she recorded 92 career goals and 43 assists and was named all-state three times. She scored 37 goals in her senior year in 2021, helping lead her team to the state semifinals.[1][5]
Dahlien also starred in track and field in high school, coming second at the state championship in the 100, 200, and 400 meters as a freshman; sweeping the 100, 200, and 400 meters as a junior; and winning the 200 meters and long jump as a senior, narrowly coming second in the 100 and 400 meters.[5][6] Following her senior year, she was named the Star Tribune Female Athlete of the Year.[5] She committed to the University of North Carolina for soccer in August 2020 and considered additionally joining the track team.[7][8]
College career
editNorth Carolina Tar Heels
editDahlien scored four goals with three assists despite making only five starts for the North Carolina Tar Heels as a freshman in 2022, being named to the Atlantic Coast Conference all-freshman team. She scored a brace against BYU in the third round of the NCAA championship, where the Tar Heels finished the season as national runners-up.[3] She moved into North Carolina's usual starting lineup as a junior in 2024, being named to the All-ACC third team.[1][9]
International career
editDahlien first trained with the United States youth national team at a combined under-18/under-19 camp in April 2023. She was one of the youngest players selected to the under-20 roster for 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, scoring a hat trick in her youth international debut against Jamaica in the group stage. She entered the starting lineup as the team finished as runners-up to Mexico, securing qualification to the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[3][10]
Dahlien appeared off the bench in every game at the U-20 Women's World Cup.[11] She scored in both of the team's group stage wins over Morocco and Paraguay.[12] 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 Ally Sentnor in the 90+8th and 90+9th minutes—the latter off Dahlien's deflected cross; they advanced in a penalty shootout.[13] Following a semifinal defeat to eventual champions North Korea, Dahlien forced a 119th-minute own goal in a 2–1 extra-time win over the Netherlands, helping the United States finish the tournament in third place, its best result since 2012.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Maddie Dahlien". North Carolina Tar Heels. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ "Madeline Dahlien". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c Furtado, Noah (July 21, 2023). "Edina's Maddie Dahlien puts Minnesota soccer back on USWNT radar". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ "Girls ECNL announces 2020-21 All Americans". Elite Clubs National League. September 20, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
- ^ a b c La Vaque, David (July 28, 2022). "Maddie Dahlien, champion who endured hard times, is the All-Metro Female Athlete of the Year". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ Long, Christina (June 28, 2021). "Edina triple-winner Maddie Dahlien is Star Tribune Metro Girls' Track Athlete of the Year". MN Track & Field Hub. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ Sherman, John (August 7, 2020). "Edina star Maddie Dahlien commits to North Carolina soccer program". Hometown Source. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ "'You Don't Want To Piss Her Off Before A Race': Edina Track Star Maddie Dahlien Plans Repeat Sweep". WCCO-TV. May 18, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ "2024 All-ACC Women's Soccer Awards Announced". Atlantic Coast Conference. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "She's Maddie From Minnesota". United States Soccer Federation. June 2, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "USA Set to Face Germany in Quarterfinal at 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup". United States Soccer Federation. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ 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.
External links
edit- Maddie Dahlien at World Athletics
- Maddie Dahlien at Soccerway.com
