Morgan Brian

Morgan Brian

Playing for the United States in February 2015
Personal information
Full name Morgan Paige Brian
Date of birth (1993-02-26) February 26, 1993
Place of birth St. Simons, Georgia, United States[1]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Houston Dash
Number 6
Youth career
2005–2012 Ponte Vedra Storm
Clay County Sol
2007–2011 Frederica Academy
College career
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2011–2014 Virginia Cavaliers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2015– Houston Dash 10 (0)
National team‡
2008–2010 United States U17 22 (15)
2012 United States U20 21 (4)
2013– United States 51 (4)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 6, 2015.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of March 12, 2016

Morgan Paige Brian (born February 26, 1993) is an American soccer player. She plays as a midfielder for the Houston Dash and for the United States women's national soccer team.[2] She played in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, which the US won; she had one assist (in the final against Japan), passing the ball to Tobin Heath.

Early life

Brian playing for the USWNT, May 2015

Born in St. Simons, Georgia to Vickie and Steve Brian, she attended Frederica Academy at St. Simons Island, Georgia. As this was a small community, she often played with older kids. This earned her the nickname 'Plankton,' in reference to her small size among the team.[3] In 2011, she was named Gatorade Player of the Year and Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year, after leading her team to the state championship with six goals. She was named the 2010 Parade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year, the 2010 NSCAA Youth Player of the Year, 2010 NSCAA High School and Youth All-American as well as 2010 ESPN Rise All-American. She was twice named Parade All-American and was a two-time Gatorade Georgia State Player of the Year.[4][5]

As an eighth grader, Brian played for the varsity team and was All-Region and All-State, helping her team to second place in the state tournament. As a freshman at Frederica, she was named team MVP, All-Region and All-State and helped the Knights clinch the state title. She scored 83 goals and provided 50 assists in her first two years of high school soccer and had 71 goals and 30 assists during her senior season.[6]

Brian played club soccer for the Ponte Vedra Storm from U-12 to U-19. She won state championships at the U-17 and U-18 levels with the Storm and was the national runner-up with the U-17 team. She helped the Storm win the U-19 national title during the summer of 2012.[6]

University of Virginia

Brian attended the University of Virginia. As a first year in 2011, she started in 22 games and appeared in 23 of the 24 total matches. As a midfielder, she was the second-leading scorer for the Cavaliers with 11 goals and eight assists. She was named the Soccer America National Freshman of the Year, NSCAA First-Team All-American, Second-Team Soccer America MVP and was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy. She was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-ACC.[6]

During her second year, Brian appeared in 15 games, starting 13, after missing the beginning of the season due to representing the United States at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup where she helped the US take home gold. Brian scored four goals and served seven assists for the Cavaliers. She was named NSCAA 1st Team All-Southeast Region, First Team All-ACC, ACC Tournament MVP as well as Second Team Soccer America MVP, Second Team TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Season, and First Team VaSID All-State.[7]

As a third year in 2013, Brian started 25 games. She was first in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring with 46 points on 16 goals and a league-high 14 assists. She scored in all four NCAA Tournament wins to lead Virginia to College Cup. She was named Soccer America Player of the Year, TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Year, VaSID State Player of the Year, First-Team NSCAA All-American, First-Team Soccer America MVP and First-Team All-ACC.[8] She was named winner of 2013 Hermann Trophy.[9]

As a fourth year in 2014, Brian repeated as the winner of the Hermann Trophy, becoming the fifth woman to win the award twice, after Mia Hamm of North Carolina (1992 and 1993), Cindy Parlow of North Carolina (1997 and 1998), Christine Sinclair of Portland (2004 and 2005) and Kerri Hanks (2006 and 2008).[10]

Playing career

Club

Houston Dash

The Houston Dash selected Brian with the first overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft for the 2015 season of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[11]

International

Youth national teams

After the award ceremony at Japan 2012 FIFA under-20 women's world cup. From left to right: 4-Crystal Dunn, 3-Cari Roccaro, 7-Kealia Ohai, 1-Brayne Heaberlin (GK), 9-Chioma Ubogagu, 6-Morgan Brian, 17-Taylor Schram, 16-Sarah Killion

Brian was a member of the United States U-17 women's national soccer team that placed third at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica. At age fifteen, she was the youngest member on the squad.[12]

Brian was a member of the United States U20 squad that won the 2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship and earned a spot at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. During the qualifying tournament, she played in four games totaling 337 minutes, scored one goal and served one assist. Her goal occurred during the team's 4–0 semifinal victory over Mexico, which earned the squad its berth to the U-20 Women's World Cup.Leading up to the World Cup, she earned 15 U-20 caps and scored three goals.[6]

Brian would later help the team win the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan; playing all six matches and scoring a goal.[13] Describing Brian, head coach Steve Swanson said, "Morgan does everything extremely well, which is rare for any midfielder. She can finish, she makes great runs, she's an excellent passer, she can take players one-on-one and she can head the ball. There are not a lot of things she can't do, but what sets her apart is her brain. She's got an amazing soccer brain for her age and she's still one of the younger players on this team."[12]

Senior team

In June 2013, Brian was called to the national training camp by head coach Tom Sermanni, in preparation for a series of friendly matches between the United States and South Korea. On June 15, 2013, she earned her first cap for the senior team during a match against South Korea, subbing in for Lauren Holiday.[14] She scored her first goal within three minutes of coming on as a sub against Mexico on September 3, 2013.

In February 2016, Brian was awarded the Golden Ball award representing the best player in the tournament for her participation in the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

2015 Women's World Cup

Morgan Brian came on as a substitute in the USWNT's first group stage game against Australia. Brian then started in the team's second group stage match against Sweden. When star midfielder, Lauren Holiday was suspended for the team's quarterfinal match against China, Brian started in place of her and helped the Stars and the Stripes win 1–0 and move on the semi final against Germany. In the semifinal, Brian started alongside Holiday as part of the U.S.'s tactical shift towards a 4-3-3 formation. Despite suffering an apparent concussion, Brian finished the game as the U.S. won 2-0. In the final against Japan, Brian started yet again, and contributed to the 5-2 U.S. victory by assisting Tobin Heath for the team's fifth goal.

International goals

Date
 Location Opponent Lineup # Min Score Result Competition
1 2013-09-03[m 1] USAWashington  Mexico

on 70' (off Tymrak)

 1.1 72

5750.07005 7–0

5750.07005 7–0

Friendly
2[n 1] 2014-02-13[m 3] USAAtlanta  Russia 90.Start 1.1 65

5550.05005 5–0

5850.08005 8–0

Friendly
3 2014-10-20[m 4] USAWashington  Haiti

on 63' (off Heath)

 1.1 82

5600.06005 6–0

5600.06005 6–0

World Cup qualifier:Group A
4 2015-04-04[m 5] USASt. Louis  New Zealand

on 79' (off Rapinoe)

 1.1 81

5450.04005 4–0

5450.04005 4–0

Friendly
Note
  1. ↑ Brian's goal against Russia on February 13, 2014 was originally awarded to Megan Rapinoe, with an assist credited to Brian, but was later reviewed and officially awarded to Brian.[m 2]

Honors and awards

International

Individual

In popular culture

Video Games

Brian 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.[15]

Ticker Tape Parade and White House honor

Following the United States' win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Brian and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City.[16] Each player received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio.[17] In October of the same year, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "HOUSTON DASH: MORGAN BRIAN". Houston Dynamo.
  2. ↑ "PLAYER BIO: MORGAN BRIAN". U.S.Soccer.
  3. ↑ "Meet the U.S. women's soccer team seeking World Cup glory". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  4. ↑ "U.S. U-20 WNT Midfielder Morgan Brian Named Gatorade National Girls' Soccer Player of the Year". US Soccer Federation. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Morgan Brian Surprised with Gatorade Player of the Year". ESPN. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Morgan Brian". US Soccer Federation. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Morgan Brian". University of Virginia. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Morgan Brian Bio – VIRGINIASPORTS.COM – The University of Virginia Official Athletic Site". virginiasports.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ Lee Enterprises. "MAC gives Hermann awards to Maryland's Mullins, Virginia's Brian". stltoday.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Morgan Brian Repeats as MAC Hermann Trophy Winner". virginiasports.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Houston Dash select USWNT midfielder Morgan Brian with No. 1 overall pick in NWSL College Draft". Houston Dynamo. January 15, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Morgan Brian Is All Grown Up". US Soccer Federation. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Morgan BRIAN". FIFA.com.
  14. ↑ "U.S. WNT Defeats Korea Republic 4–1 in Foxborough, Mass.". ussoccer.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  15. ↑ Barnes, Katie (September 28, 2015). "Why 'FIFA 16' is a Landmark for Women". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  16. ↑ "U.S. women celebrate World Cup with ticker-tape parade in New York City". USA Today. July 11, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Team USA parades NYC's "Canyon of Heroes"". CBS News. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  18. ↑ 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.
Match reports
  1. ↑ "U.S. WNT Takes down Mexico 7–0 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.". U.S.Soccer.
  2. ↑ "USWNT stats".
  3. ↑ "U.S. WNT Routs Russia 8–0 in Second Leg in Front of 16,133 Fans at Georgia Dome". U.S. Soccer Federation. February 13, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ "WNT Defeats Haiti 6–0 to Earn Top Seed in Semifinals of 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship". U.S.Soccer.
  5. ↑ "U.S. WNT 4 vs. New Zealand 0". U.S.Soccer.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morgan Brian.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 19, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.