Ally Sentnor Explained

Ally Sentnor
Full Name:Allyson Marie Sentnor[1]
Birth Date:18 February 2004
Height:5 ft 3 in
Position:Midfielder / forward
Currentclub:Utah Royals
Clubnumber:9
Collegeyears1:2021–2023
College1:North Carolina Tar Heels
Collegecaps1:48
Collegegoals1:21
Years1:2024–
Clubs1:Utah Royals
Caps1:16
Goals1:3
Nationalyears1:2018–2019
Nationalteam1:United States U17
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:3
Nationalyears2:2019
Nationalteam2:United States U18
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2022–
Nationalteam3:United States U20
Nationalcaps3:16
Nationalgoals3:9
Club-Update:June 29, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:July 16, 2024

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) and the United States national under-20 team. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels before being picked first overall by the Royals in the 2024 NWSL Draft.

Early life

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 in her childhood 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] She played club soccer from age six for South Shore Select of Hingham, Massachusetts, and often trained with the Boston Bolts boys' team.[6] She also played futsal, an indoor soccer variant, which helped develop her touch in limited space.[7] [8] She began playing varsity soccer at Thayer Academy as an eighth grader, graduating early in 2021.[6] [9]

College career

Sentnor began attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall of 2021, but suffered an ACL tear minutes into her first preseason game and took nine months to recover after surgery.[10] [11] She returned to the college field in fall 2022, scoring in her debut against UNC Wilmington .[12] She scored ten goals in her redshirt freshman season, including five in the 2022 NCAA tournament where North Carolina reached the final, and was named to the All-ACC first team.[2] In the 2023 season, she led the team with 11 goals and 7 assists and was named the ACC Midfielder of the Year, first-team All-ACC, and third-team All-American.[13] She finished her college career having contributed a goal or assist in each of her last seven games.[14]

Club career

Utah Royals, 2024–

Sentnor was selected first overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft by the Utah Royals, who were returning to the NWSL; she and North Carolina teammate Savy King were the top two picks.[15] She was signed to a three-year contract.[16] She played in the starting lineup from the season opener against the Chicago Red Stars on March 16.[17] She recorded her first professional goal on March 22 in a 2–1 home win over the North Carolina Courage, scoring from the corner of the penalty box off a long dribble.[18] She scored or assisted on five of her team's first seven goals on the season.[19] 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-table Royals to win their group in the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.[20]

International career

Sentnor began participating in youth national team training camps in seventh grade. She was the youngest player, at age 12, at an under-14 team camp in July 2016 and, at 13, at an under-15 team camp in June 2017.[21] [22] She traveled to Germany as the youngest member of the under-15 team in November 2017, scoring five goals in two games.[23] [24] In 2018, she was named the most valuable player of the Weifang Cup, which she won with the under-15 team.[25] She was the youngest player for the under-18 team in February 2019 when she scored twice in two friendlies against England.[26] [27]

Following her ACL recovery, Sentnor was called up to the national under-20 team and played in her first official match at that level at the 2022 Sud Ladies Cup.[23] She appeared in all three group stage matches at 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, scoring once against Ghana.[23] The next year, she scored four goals at the 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship to help the team qualify for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[28] [29]

Awards and honors

Individual

2019[30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022 – Squad List. FIFA. 2023-12-12.
  2. Web site: Ally Sentnor – Women's Soccer. University of North Carolina Athletics. 2023-12-03.
  3. News: Thayer Academy freshman Ally Sentnor carries sky-high potential. Sigal. Jonathan. 2018-09-05. New England Soccer Journal. limited. 2023-12-13.
  4. News: Mass. soccer star is top draft pick in women's soccer league. Funayama. Naoko. 2024-01-12. WCVB-TV. 2024-01-13.
  5. News: Ally Sentnor wants to make impactful plays whenever she can for the Utah Royals. Kudzi. Musarurwa. 2024-04-05. All for XI. SB Nation. 2024-04-24.
  6. News: How Hanson's Ally Sentnor, the NWSL's top draft pick, became 'destined for greatness'. https://archive.today/20240313141630/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/13/sports/ally-sentnor-nwsl/. 2024-03-13. subscription. Touri. Amin. 2024-03-13. The Boston Globe.
  7. News: Top-scorer Ally Sentnor leads UNC women's soccer to 4–0 win at N.C. State. Monroe. Noah. 2023-10-02. The Daily Tar Heel. 2023-12-13.
  8. News: U.S. Women's Soccer Is Struggling. Thinking Small Could Help.. Bachman. Rachel. 2023-08-04. https://archive.today/20230818101041/https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/us-womens-soccer-world-cup-futsal-sweden-39845889. 2023-08-18. subscription.
  9. News: Ally Sentnor accelerates graduation timeline, joins UNC's Class of 2021. limited. Sigal. Jonathan. 2020-11-18. New England Soccer Journal. 2023-12-12.
  10. News: A victory off the field: UNC women's soccer star's campaign for recovery. Ferris. Sammy. 2022-04-11. UNC Media Hub. 2023-12-12.
  11. News: 'A Long Trek Back': UNC's Ally Sentnor Returns to the Pitch After ACL Injury. Koh. Michael. 2022-09-19. Chapelboro.com. 2023-12-13.
  12. News: Ally Sentnor makes her 'poetic return' to UNC women's soccer in victory over UNCW. Ware. Lindsey. The Daily Tar Heel. 2023-12-12.
  13. News: Patterson, Sentnor Nab United Soccer Coaches All-America Honors. 2023-12-01. University of North Carolina Athletics. 2023-12-13.
  14. News: UNC women's soccer midfielder Ally Sentnor to pursue professional career. 2024-01-06. Wei. Daniel. The Daily Tar Heel. 2024-01-13.
  15. News: Utah Royals FC pick UNC's Ally Sentnor first overall in NWSL draft. 2024-01-12. ESPN. 2024-01-13.
  16. Web site: Former UNC Standout Signs With Utah Royals FC . . 2024-02-20.
  17. News: Massachusetts native reflects on her professional soccer debut. Funayama. Naoko. 2024-03-20. WCVB-TV. 2024-04-24.
  18. News: Expansion Utah wins first NWSL match 2–1 over North Carolina. Angel City and Orlando play to 1–1 tie. 2024-03-23. Rantz. Susie. Associated Press. 2024-04-24.
  19. 1802555770380108113. 5 – Ally Sentnor has been directly involved .... Opta Sports. OptaJack. OptaJack⚽️. 2024-06-17. 2024-08-08.
  20. News: Utah Royals Forward Ally Sentnor Named July Player of the Month, Presented by EA SPORTS and July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally . 2024-08-08. National Women's Soccer League. 2024-08-08.
  21. News: Ally Sentnor selected to attend the US U14 Girls' National Training Camp in Colorado. South Shore Select. 2023-12-12.
  22. News: Lilly Reale and Ally Sentnor Attend U15 U.S. National Training Camp. 2017-06-12. South Shore Select. 2023-12-12.
  23. News: Ally Sentnor's First CONCACAF. 2023-05-22. United States Soccer Federation. 2023-12-12.
  24. News: U.S. U15 Girls National Team Win Twice in Germany. Scavuzzo. Diane. 2017-11-04. SoccerToday. 2023-12-12.
  25. News: U.S. U-15 GNT earns three-game sweep at CFA Tournament in China. 2018-08-31. United States Soccer Federation. 2023-12-13. SoccerWire.
  26. News: Ally Sentnor called into U.S. U-18 national team. limited. New England Soccer Journal. 2019-02-09. Sigal. Jonathan. 2023-12-12.
  27. News: U.S. U-18 WNT Draws 2–2 with England in First of Two Matches to Start New Cycle. 2019-02-23. United States Soccer Federation. 2023-12-12.
  28. News: U.S. U-20 Women's Youth National Team Falls to Mexico 2–1 in Hard-Fought CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Final. 2023-06-04. United States Soccer Federation. 2023-12-12.
  29. News: Ally Sentnor reflects on success with U.S. U-20 team, comeback from injury. Langone. Matt. 2023-06-12. New England Soccer Journal. 2023-12-13. limited.
  30. News: Meet the Hanson soccer star, 15, crowned Sports Illustrated's SportsKid of the Year. Lukpat. Alyssa. 2019-12-19. The Boston Globe. https://archive.today/20231213053150/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2019/12/19/lifestyle/meet-hanson-soccer-star-15-crowned-sports-illustrateds-sportskid-year/. 2023-12-13. subscription.