Kiersten Dallstream is a World Cup champion.

The junior forward took a break from her normal role on the WSU soccer team in late November to play on the U.S. Under-20 Women's World Cup team.

The Americans captured the championship Dec. 7 with a 2-1 win against the defending champions, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The U.S. was out-shot 15-9 in the match, but scored two first-half goals to secure the victory.

Sydney Leroux (from UCLA) scored first in the 23rd minute for the U.S., and Alex Morgan (from the University of California-Berkley) scored the team's final goal in the 42nd minute.

The U.S. finished 5-1 in the tournament.

The team began the tournament 2-0 with a 3-0 victory against France in the Nov. 9 opener and 3-0 win against Argentina three days later. The victories helped the team clinch the top spot in Group B.

The U.S. suffered its first loss in the final match of Group B play. China defeated the Americans 2-0.

Dallstream started the match, but left in the ninth minute due to injury. Despite the loss, the team still claimed the top spot in Group B thanks to its 2-0 start to the tournament.

The team faced England in the quarterfinals Nov. 30. Dallstream was not allowed to play though, because the knee brace she wore on her left knee was not compliant with regulations, according to the match referee.

The brace was a result of the injury Dallstream received against China. Without Dallstream, the U.S. still defeated England 3-0 to move onto the semifinals against Germany.

The Americans defeated Germany 1-0 in the semifinal match to advance to the finals. Dallstream played in the game as a substitute.

Dallstream entered the game late in the second half replacing Leroux, the tournament's leading goal scorer. Leroux scored the only goal of the match in the 21st minute.