Freeman Gets Second Call-Up to U.S. U-20 Team

EUGENE, Ore. – Leah Freeman, the Ducks' record-setting goalkeeper, has been called up to the U.S. U-20 National Team Camp for the second time in six months, Women's U-20 head coach Tracey Kevins announced Wednesday.
 
The U.S. U-20 Team will train May 11-19 at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The United States will play Costa Rica in two friendly matches on May 15 and 18.
 
"I learned a lot during my last camp," said Freeman, who was also in camp with Team USA in December. "I was able see my strengths and weaknesses on the field but also learned a lot about myself and how I need to push mentally.
 
"The last few months I have been able to work on all those, gaining confidence in myself and growing as a player. I hope to bring that into this camp and push myself physically and mentally in order to make the next roster."
 
The U-20 USWNT is preparing for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica August 10-28.
 
Freeman's 2021 sophomore season saw her set a school record with nine shutouts and post a 0.87 goals against average. In addition to being an all-league first team selection, Freeman was also named to the United Soccer Coaches all-Pacific Region first team and the CoSIDA academic all-District 8 first team.
 
The Berkeley, Calif., native was one of four Pac-12 players selected for the camp.
 
Leah Freeman, Jr., GK, Berkeley, Calif.
Honors
U.S. U-20 National Team Training Camp (2x)
United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region First Team
All-Pac-12 First Team
CoSIDA academic all-District 8 first team
2x Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week (Sept. 26 & Oct. 11)
 
Freeman led the Pac-12 and tied for 15th nationally with a school-record nine shutouts in 2021. She was named Pac-12 player of the week twice; the first came after a shutout at No. 3 UCLA and the second followed back-to-back shutouts of Arizona and Arizona State. She made six saves versus UCLA and was one of only two goalkeepers to shutout the Bruins in 2021. She matched her season high with eight saves in the Ducks' 1-0 win over ASU.
 
Freeman ranked third in the Pac-12 in both goals against average (0.87) and save percentage (.839). The goals against average is the third-best in program history. She had a scoreless minutes streak of 449:59, second-longest in program history, in September during which she posted four consecutive shutouts (Portland, Portland State, UCLA, California). Her eight goalkeeper wins in 2021 was one shy of the program record. She also ranked second in the Pac-12 in saves (4.59 per game).
 
In addition to the season shutout record (nine) Freeman also owns UO records for scoreless minutes streak (471:54), lowest goals against average (0.74) and fewest goals allowed (12) in a single season, all of which she set as a freshman.
 
In just two years, Freeman already ranks fourth in UO career shutouts (14), sixth in wins (13) and eighth in saves (140).
 
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