Ashlyn Harris

Ashlyn Harris

Harris with United States national team, June 2014
Personal information
Full name Ashlyn Michelle Harris
Date of birth (1985-10-19) October 19, 1985
Place of birth Satellite Beach, Florida, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Orlando Pride
Number 1
Youth career
2001–2004 Satellite High School
College career
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2009 North Carolina Tar Heels
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2009 Pali Blues 5 (0)
2010 Saint Louis Athletica 0 (0)
2010 Washington Freedom 9 (0)
2011–2012 Western New York Flash 18 (0)
2012–2013 FCR 2001 Duisburg 6 (0)
2013–2015 Washington Spirit 46 (0)
2013 → Tyresö FF (loan) 7 (0)
2016– Orlando Pride 1 (0)
National team‡
2000–2004 United States U-19 12 (0)
2005–2006 United States U-21
2013– United States 8 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 17, 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of September 17, 2015

Ashlyn Michelle Harris (born October 19, 1985) is an American professional soccer goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team and NWSL club Orlando Pride. She previously played for the Saint Louis Athletica, Washington Freedom, and Western New York Flash of Women's Professional Soccer as well as FCR 2001 Duisburg of Fußball-Bundesliga (women) in Germany[1] and Tyresö FF of the Swedish Damallsvenskan. She was on the roster of the United States national soccer team for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Early life

Harris was a four-year (2001–2004) starter at Satellite High School in Satellite Beach, Florida. Harris played for legendary high school coach Fidgi Haig.[2] Harris has the distinction as being the first Four-Time Parade All-American in women's high school soccer history.[3] Harris led the Scorpions to the state titles in 2002 and 2003.

Harris starred for the 2002 team that finished 29–1–1, scoring 178 goals, allowed 10 goals in 31 games and finished No. 1 in the state and No. 5 nationally by Student Sports Magazine. An incredible 16 players went onto play college from the 2002 squad, with 10 going Division 1, with Harris being the cream of the crop.

In 2004, during her senior year, Harris recorded 15 shutouts while allowing only 8 goals and making 52 saves.[4] She was named the 2004 Gatorade National Women's Soccer Player of the Year.[5] In 2004, her team was rated No. 1 in the country by StudentSports.com.

University of North Carolina

During her collegiate career, Harris served as the starting goalkeeper for the University of North Carolina women's soccer team.[3]

Harris signed with the Tar Heels to play for head coach Anson Dorrance. Harris did not play in 2004 due to national team commitments but came back to play for the Tar Heels in 2005. However, Harris tore her right anterior cruciate ligament during her first practice with UNC. Despite being hurt, Harris still made the 2005–2006 Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll team.

Redshirt Freshman Season (2006)

Harris tore her ACL again in the summer of 2006. However, she came back to play in the final six games of the regular season for the Tar Heels. Dorrance employed a unique strategy, playing Harris in the second half of the games.[6] Harris played in the 2006 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament, and played the second half versus University of North Carolina-Asheville in a 7–0 victory, vs. Navy in a 3–0 victory in the second round of the tourney, vs. the University of Tennessee in a 6–2 victory in the Round of 16, vs. Texas A&M in a 3–2 victory in the quarterfinals, vs. UCLA in a 2–0 victory in the semifinals of the final four, and started the second half in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship vs. Notre Dame in a 2–1 victory.[7]

Redshirt Sophomore Season (2007)

Dorrance again employed the two-goalkeeper method, as Harris split time with junior GK Anna Rodenbough. Harris played in 19 games and made 9 starts, playing in a total of 1120 minutes and 7 seconds to lead all goalkeepers. Her record was 10 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. She faced 78 shots, made 29 saves, and allowed only 9 goals in 19 games for a 0.66 goals allowed per game average. On November 24, 2007, UNC lost for only its 7th time in school history in the NCAA tournament as they lost 3–2 to Notre Dame in the first round. Harris started and played all 90 minutes and allowed all three goals. The three goals came off of a header on a throw-in, a goal off of a failed clear, and a breakaway goal. The first two goals were scored only 14 seconds apart. The three goals UNC allowed were the most allowed in a NCAA game in 17 years when they won 4–3 versus North Carolina State on November 11, 1990.[8]

Redshirt Junior Season (2008)

Dorrance has employed Harris in the two-goalkeeper system along with senior Anna Rodenbough. Rodenbough plays the first 45 minutes while Harris plays the last 45 minutes. Through September 28, 2008, UNC is 9–1–1 and is currently ranked No. 3 in the country according to the national rankings by Soccer Buzz Magazine. Harris has played 476 minutes and 24 seconds while holding a record of 4–0–1 with 14 saves.[9]

Playing career

Club

Saint Louis Athletica

Ashlyn was selected with the 19th pick in the 2010 WPS Draft by the Saint Louis Athletica.[10] On June 1, 2010, she became a free agent upon the team's dissolution.[11]

Washington Freedom

On June 2, 2010, Ashlyn signed with the Washington Freedom.[12] She started all ten of her appearances for the Freedom for a total of 930 minutes in goal.[13][14]

Western New York Flash

By 2011, Ashlyn was considered a top goalkeeper and was offered a starting position with an expansion team, the Western New York Flash. She started in each of the eighteen games for the Flash, allowing just eighteen goals for a GAA of 1.00. Despite being left off of the roster for the US Women's National Soccer team for the 2011 World Cup, Harris led the Flash to the 2011 WPS Championship. When a 1–1 tie with the Philadelphia Independence left the outcome of the match to be decided by penalty kicks, both teams were nearly perfect, but Harris made the last save to clinch the win for the Flash. She was named the 2011 Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year.[15]

FCR 2001 Duisburg

In June 2012 after the folding of the WPS, Harris signed a two-year contract with FCR 2001 Duisburg in the Fußball-Bundesliga (women) league[1] but announced via Twitter on February 23 that she would be ending her time in Germany to return home and join the National Women's Soccer League. During her time with the team, she started all seven of her appearances for a total of 630 minutes.[13]

Washington Spirit

On January 11, 2013, Harris was allocated to the Washington Spirit during the NWSL Player Allocation for the inaugural season of the NWSL.[16][17][18]

Tyresö FF (Damallsvenskan)

After signing a short term contract through November,[19] Harris played her first game for Tyresö on August 21, 2013 just days after the end of the NWSL season. She joined U.S. Women's National teammates Christen Press, Ali Krieger, and Meghan Klingenberg at the defending Swedish champions. While some American players delayed their return from Sweden, to try and win the UEFA Women's Champions League, Harris and Krieger announced that they would return to the Washington Spirit for the start of the 2014 campaign.[20]

Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride announced Ashlyn Harris' signing on November 2, 2015. Ashlyn is the first announced goalkeeper for Orlando Pride and was chosen as 2nd pick through the NWSL Expansion Draft.

International

Harris represented the United States as a member of the U-16, U-17, and U-19 teams. She is a member of the United States women's national soccer team player pool.[21] She earned her first appearance with the senior team on March 11, 2013 against Sweden, and was on the roster of the United States national soccer team for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Honors

In popular culture

Video games

Harris was featured along with her national teammates in the EA Sports' FIFA video game series in FIFA 16, the first time women players were included in the game.[22]

Ticker Tape Parade and White House Honor

Following the United States' win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Harris and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City.[23] Each player received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio.[24] In October of the same year, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House.[25]

Personal Life

Harris lives in Orlando, Florida. She has done philanthropic work for To Write Love on Her Arms.

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/group/fuballbundesliga/forum/topics/ashlyn-harris-western-new-york-flash-usa-champion-keeper-signs-a
  2. ↑ "Faculty and Staff Profiles". fit.edu.
  3. 1 2 University of North Carolina Tar Heels Official Athletic Site
  4. ↑ "Manta - The Place for Small Business". Manta.
  5. ↑ All-time Gatorade National Players of the Year | Coach and Athletic Director | Find Articles at BNET.com
  6. ↑ "North Carolina's freshman orientation is on the field". ESPN.com.
  7. ↑ "NCAA soccer: Daily roundup of 2006 Division I women's game scores.". soccertimes.com.
  8. ↑ University of North Carolina Tar Heels Official Athletic Site
  9. ↑ UNC Moves Up In NSCAA, Soccer Buzz Polls
  10. ↑ http://www.womensprosoccer.com/players/legacy/stlouis/bios/ashlyn-harris
  11. ↑ http://www.womensprosoccer.com/news/press_releases/100527-athletica-folds
  12. ↑ Kat Galsim. "Q&A with Ashlyn Harris, Washington Freedom's Newest Goalkeeper". Bleacher Report.
  13. 1 2 "Ashlyn Harris". Soccer Way. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Freedom Newbies: Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Independence sweep top WPS awards". Philly.com. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Page Not Found". ussoccer.com.
  17. ↑ "NWSL allocation easier said than done". ESPN. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Player distribution sees NWSL take shape". FIFA. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  19. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (July 22, 2013). "Ashlyn Harris to join Tyresö after NWSL season". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  20. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (December 16, 2013). "Ashlyn Harris leaves Tyresö, returning to Spirit". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Ashlyn Harris player profile". US Soccer. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  22. ↑ Barnes, Katie (September 28, 2015). "Why 'FIFA 16' is a Landmark for Women". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  23. ↑ "U.S. women celebrate World Cup with ticker-tape parade in New York City". USA Today. July 11, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Team USA parades NYC's "Canyon of Heroes"". CBS News. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  25. ↑ Wagner, Laura (October 27, 2015). "Obama To U.S. Women's Soccer Team: 'Playing Like A Girl Means You're A Badass'". NPR. Retrieved January 3, 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ashlyn Harris.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, May 03, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.