María Sánchez (footballer)

María Guadalupe Sánchez Morales (born 20 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Houston Dash. Born in the United States, she represents the Mexico women's national team.

For other people named Maria Sanchez, see Maria Sanchez.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Morales.
María Sánchez
Sánchez in 2016
Personal information
Full name María Guadalupe Sánchez Morales[1]
Date of birth (1996-02-20) 20 February 1996[1]
Place of birth Nampa, Idaho, United States[2]
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team 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 45 (7)
International career‡
2010 Mexico U17
2015–2016 Mexico U20 9 (3)
2015– Mexico 35 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:47, 16 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 January 2022[3]

Sánchez played American collegiate soccer at Idaho State University before leaving in April 2016.[4] She subsequently concluded her collegiate career at Santa Clara University in 2018.

Sánchez began her professional career with American club Chicago Red Stars, who selected Sánchez with the fifteenth overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft. After the 2019 NWSL season, Sánchez signed with Guadalajara of the Liga MX Femenil for 2020. In 2021, she moved to Tigres UANL and won the 2021 Clausura title. In the summer 2021, Sánchez had a month-long loan to American club Houston Dash, who later signed her permanently.

A senior and former youth Mexican international, Sánchez played at 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 Mexican-born Roberto Sánchez and Irene Morales, who as of 2015 were employed at a potato processing plant in American Falls, Idaho, United States. 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, respectively. Her number was later retired by American Falls High School.[7]

College career

Idaho State University

Despite her high school record, Idaho State Bengals was the only collegiate program that offered Sánchez a scholarship because she did not play elite club soccer. Sánchez played for Idaho State in 2014 and 2015. As a freshman in 2014, Sánchez 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, Sánchez 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 and alleged that 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 further alleged that those five schools had communicated with Sánchez without permission. Sánchez denied the allegations and responded that Idaho State was blocking her soccer career. Idaho State subsequently granted her request to contact Santa Clara University and South Florida University.[10]

Santa Clara University

Sánchez enrolled at Santa Clara in January 2017 and began playing for the Santa Clara Broncos. She appeared in all 23 games in 2017, scored five goals, and tied for the West Coast Conference lead with six assists.[7] In 2018, Sánchez appeared in 19 games and scored eight goals.[11] She had 16 assists, first among players in all NCAA Division I programs.[12]

Club career

Chicago Red Stars

On January 11, 2019, Sánchez was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[13] She made seven appearances with the club in 2019.

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.[14] 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.[15]

Tigres UANL

Sánchez signed with Tigres UANL for 2021 and helped the team win the Clausura 2021. After a loan to the Houston Dash for June, Sánchez 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."[16]

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.[17] 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.[18] Although her loan ended, Houston retained her NWSL rights.

2022 season

Prior to the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft, the Dash released a list of nine protected players that included "a contracted international player who has not yet been announced."[19] The NWSL released the same list but named Sánchez as that player, although her contract signing would not be officially announced until 2022.[20] On 6 January 2022, 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

Sánchez was eligible to represent Mexico and the United States at the international level.

In 2015, Sánchez's coach at Idaho State told her about a tryout for the Mexico women's national under-20 football team. She made the team and, after good performances, was named to join the senior Mexico women's national football team for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was the second youngest player on the World Cup team.[21] Sánchez played as a midfielder in one match, a loss to England, in the World Cup.[22]

International goals
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
125 June 2022Estadio Corona, Torreón, Mexico Peru2–15–1Friendly
222 September 2023Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Puerto Rico1–12–12024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup qualification

References
  1. "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. "Houston Dash sign Mexican forward María Sánchez from UANL Tigres". Houston Dash. 6 January 2022.
  4. Papworth, Jeff. "Maria Sanchez accuses ISU of blocking her soccer career".
  5. "Idaho State star creas surprising path to Worl Cup". The Idaho Statesman. 4 June 2015. pp. A8. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. "Sanchez (continued from A8". The Idaho Statesman. 4 June 2015. pp. A10. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  7. "Maria Sanchez". Santa Clara.
  8. "Maria Sanchez - 2015 - Women's Soccer". Idaho State University Athletics.
  9. Papworth, Jeff. "ISU alleges NCAA violations in response to Sanchez' soccer situation". Idaho State Journal.
  10. Papworth, Jeff. "Maria Sanchez accuses ISU of blocking her soccer career". Idaho State Journal.
  11. "Santa Clara". Santa Clara.
  12. "NCAA College Women's Soccer DI Stats | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  13. "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  14. @ChivasFemenil (13 December 2019). "🔥 @Maria17_7 llegas al equipo más querido de 🇲🇽Con unión, trabajo y dedicación vamos por todo este Clausura 2020 👊 ¡Bienvenida! 🙌 #ReChivas" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2019 – via Twitter.
  15. "Chivas Femenil Chat". Fut Mex Nation. 17 December 2020.
  16. "Terminó el sueño". Once. 22 December 2021.
  17. "Chicago Acquires Second Round Selection in the 2022 NWSL Draft". Chicago Red Stars. 29 March 2021.
  18. "Houston Dash eclipse Orlando in first meeting of the regular season". Houston Dash. 26 June 2021.
  19. "Houston Dash announces protected list ahead of NWSL Expansion Draft". Houston Dash. 10 December 2021.
  20. "María Sánchez looks to have signed agreement with Houston Dash". The Striker Texas. 10 December 2021.
  21. "Forward María Sánchez named to Mexico Women's National Team roster". Houston Dynamo FC. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  22. "FIFA". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
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