Hayes previously played for the United States under-18 women's national soccer team. She competed for the United States at the 2010 and 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup tournaments. On August 20, 2012, at Hiroshima Big Arch, she scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win against Ghana, in the first match played by the United States at the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup; the first goal was an own goal by Ghanaian Linda Addai. Three days later, at the same venue, in the second match against China, she scored a 36th-minute equalizer goal to tie the game at 1-1, which was also the final score. In their last match in Group D, the United States team conceded a 0–3 loss to Germany; and advanced to the second stage based on goal difference, with all goals scored by Hayes besides one aforementioned own goal. With no further goal from Hayes in the knock-out stage, the United States team won the 2012 Japan FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup tournament with two goals from Kealia Ohai and one goal each from Vanessa DiBernardo and Morgan Brian.