Melanie Barcenas Explained

Melanie Barcenas
Full Name:Melanie Magali Barcenas[1]
Birth Date:30 October 2007[2]
Birth Place:San Diego, California, U.S.
Position:Forward
Currentclub:San Diego Wave FC
Clubnumber:25
Youthyears1:2013–2023
Youthclubs1:San Diego Surf
Years1:2023–
Clubs1:San Diego Wave FC
Caps1:7
Goals1:0
Nationalyears1:2022–
Nationalteam1:United States U17
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:October 15, 2023
Nationalteam-Update:August 31, 2022

Melanie Magali Barcenas (born October 30, 2007) is an American professional soccer player for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). In 2023, she became the youngest player ever to play in the NWSL, at the age of 15 years and 177 days.

Early life

Barcenas was born and raised in San Diego, California.[3] At age 10, she attended a United States women's national soccer team match against Brazil in Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, and accompanied the United States players out onto the pitch before the match. She asked forward Alex Morgan, her favorite player, for a jersey after the match, which Morgan gave her.[4]

Barcenas played during her youth career with San Diego Surf.[4] [3] She was part of the Surf under-8 team that won the 2014 Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase in San Diego[5] and the leading goalscorer for the Surf's under-12 team at the 2019 Far West President's Cup in Norco, California, which the Surf won on two goals by Barcenas in the championship match.[6]

Club career

On March 21, 2023, Barcenas signed a three-year contract with San Diego Wave FC through the NWSL Under-18 Entry Mechanism at the age of 15 years and 138 days. This contract made her the youngest-ever NWSL signee, breaking the record set by Chloe Ricketts earlier in the month (15 years and 283 days). She made her first appearance with the team during a pre-season match against Angel City FC on March 18, 2023.[4] [7]

Barcenas made her NWSL regular-season debut on April 29, 2023, in a 3–1 loss to the Orlando Pride, entering as a substitute in the 72nd minute. Her appearance, somewhat delayed by an illness, nonetheless made her the youngest NWSL player ever to appear in a regular-season match (15 years and 177 days).[8] [9] One of her Wave teammates is Alex Morgan, whose shirt she had received as a fan.[4]

International career

Barcenas has Mexican American heritage.[10] On January 17, 2022, Barcenas attended training camp for the Mexico national under-17 team.[11] [12]

On April 11, 2022, Barcenas was the youngest player named to the initial roster of the United States national under-17 team for the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship,[13] but was forced to withdraw before the start of the tournament due to an ankle injury.[14] She was called into United States under-17 friendlies in August 2022[15] and under-16 training camp in October 2022.[16]

In February 2023, Barcenas played in two exhibition games with the United States under-17 team.[7] Barcenas was named to the roster for the 2024 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship in Mexico where she scored 1 goal en route to the US team winning the championship for the sixth time as well as qualifying the team for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[17]

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCup[18] Playoffs[19] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
San Diego Wave FC2023NWSL7000—70
Career total70000070

Honors

San Diego Wave

United States U-17

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024 CONCACAF Women's Under-17 Championship – National team roster: USA . . 28 January 2024 . 29 January 2024 . January 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240129223736/https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb61466b549ff752e5/files/0c565661-81b6-1015-9f21-f9cfdeca825a/24_CWU17C_Final_Rosters_v2.pdf . live .
  2. Web site: United States Women's Under-17 Roster. CONCACAF. March 21, 2023. October 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231030234709/https://www.concacaf.com/en/under-17s-women/teams/united-states/. live.
  3. Wave's Melanie Barcenas Becomes Youngest Player in NWSL History. Williams. Madison. March 21, 2023. Sports Illustrated. March 21, 2023. April 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230429143817/https://www.si.com/soccer/2023/03/21/melanie-barcenas-youngest-player-nwsl-history-signing-san-diego-wave. live.
  4. News: Column: Wave sign 15-year-old San Diegan . March 26, 2023 . May 1, 2023 . . Tom . Krasovic . June 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608065304/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sports-columnists/story/2023-03-21/column-wave-signs-15-year-old-san-diegan-jurickson-profars-opt-out-pays-off-dont-count-aztecs-out . live .
  5. News: San Diego Surf Academy Select GU8 win soccer showcase . July 29, 2014 . May 1, 2023 . . . October 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030234546/https://www.baltimoresun.com/sddmt-san-diego-surf-academy-select-gu8-win-soccer-2014jul29-story.html . live .
  6. News: Unselfishness pays off for San Diego Surf U12 girls team in Far West Regional Championships . July 12, 2019 . May 1, 2023 . . Gideon . Rubin . May 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507173718/https://www.delmartimes.net/sports/story/2019-07-12/unselfishness-pays-off-for-san-diego-surf-u12-girls-team-in-far-west-regional-championships . live .
  7. News: Melanie Barcenas youngest player ever to sign with NWSL team . March 22, 2023 . May 1, 2023 . . . San Diego Wave forward Melanie Barcenas controls the ball during a preseason soccer match against Angel City FC Saturday, March 18, 2023, in San Diego. . October 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031000923/https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/sports/2023/03/22/melanie-barcenas-youngest-player-ever-to-sign-with-nwsl-team . live .
  8. News: San Diego Wave's Melanie Barcenas, 15, becomes youngest to play in NWSL game: How did she fare?. Yang. Steph. The Athletic. April 30, 2023. April 30, 2023.
  9. News: San Diego Wave Is Pounded by Pride, Falls 3-1 to Winless Orlando at Home. Stone. Ken. April 30, 2023. Times of San Diego. April 30, 2023. April 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230430052319/https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2023/04/29/san-diego-wave-is-pounded-by-pride-falls-3-1-to-winless-orlando-at-home/. live.
  10. Web site: Gerardo . Xiomara . September 27, 2023 . Meet Melanie Barcenas, the 15-year-old Latina trailblazer in the NWSL . November 26, 2023 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . November 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231126202308/https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-09-27/melanie-barcenas-nwsl-san-diego-wave . live .
  11. La SNM Femenil Sub -17 inició concentración . . January 17, 2022 . The Sub-17 Women's SNM began concentration . es . May 1, 2023 . October 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030235006/https://miseleccion.mx/noticias/3857/La%2520SNM%2520Femenil%2520Sub%2520-17%2520inici%25C3%25B3%2520concentraci%25C3%25B3n . live .
  12. News: Solo una felina . Just one feline . January 17, 2022 . May 1, 2023 . Once . November 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231103183439/https://www.oncediario.com/notas/36800-mexico-seleccion-mexicana-femenil-sub-17-deiry-ramirez-ana-laura-galindo . live .
  13. News: USA roster unveiled for 2022 Concacaf Women's U-17 Championship . April 11, 2022 . May 1, 2023 . SoccerWire . October 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031000254/https://www.soccerwire.com/news/usa-roster-unveiled-for-2022-concacaf-womens-u-17-championship/ . live .
  14. Five Things to Know About the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U17 Championship . April 21, 2022 . May 1, 2023 . . October 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031001443/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2022/04/five-things-to-know-about-the-2022-concacaf-womens-u17-championship . live .
  15. News: U.S. U-17 Women's Youth National Team roster unveiled for Spain trip . August 16, 2022 . May 1, 2023 . SoccerWire . October 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031000118/https://www.soccerwire.com/news/u-s-u-17-womens-youth-national-team-roster-unveiled-for-spain-trip/ . live .
  16. News: U.S. U-16 Women's Youth National Team heads to Nike World Headquarters for training camp . October 19, 2022 . May 1, 2023 . SoccerWire . October 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231031000044/https://www.soccerwire.com/news/u-s-u-16-womens-youth-national-team-heads-to-nike-world-headquarters-for-training-camp/ . live .
  17. Web site: 2021-03-12 . Game Details . 2024-03-06 . Concacaf . en.
  18. Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  19. Includes NWSL Playoffs
  20. Web site: San Diego Wave claim 2023 NWSL Shield . October 19, 2023 . CONCACAF . October 17, 2023 . October 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030011655/https://www.concacaf.com/en/concacafw/news/san-diego-wave-claim-2023-nwsl-shield/#:~:text=regular%20season%20champions.-,In%20just%20their%20second%20season%20as%20an%20NWSL%20team%2C%20the,the%20semifinals%20of%20the%20Playoffs. . live .
  21. Web site: March 16, 2024 . San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup .

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