Kaleigh Kurtz

Last updated

Kaleigh Kurtz
NC Courage v San Diego Wave (Oct 2023) 185 (cropped).jpg
Kurtz with the North Carolina Courage in 2023
Personal information
Full name Kaleigh Nicole Kurtz [1]
Date of birth (1994-09-09) September 9, 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Greer, South Carolina, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
North Carolina Courage
Number 3
Youth career
2004-2012 Carolina Elite Soccer Academy
2009–2012 Riverside High School
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2013 Richmond Spiders 18 (0)
2014–2016 South Carolina Gamecocks 69 (2)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017 Östersunds DFF 12 (0)
2018– North Carolina Courage 57 (3)
2019–2020Canberra United (loan) 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:30, 24 September 2022 (UTC)

Kaleigh Nicole Kurtz (born September 9, 1994) is an American professional soccer defender who plays for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League and Canberra United in the Australian W-League.

Contents

Early life

Kurtz grew up in Greer, South Carolina. She started playing soccer at the age of four in the local YMCA league, switching to the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy(CESA) when she was 9. She was a top swimmer in her division growing up, competing alongside her sister for Eastside Aquatic Club. Her family's passion towards fitness and running lead her to racing 5ks. She competed in multiple races, coming in first place for overall females 3 times. In soccer she has almost always played the position of defender, specifically centre back. She attended high school at Riverside High school, where she was a three-year All-State winner. Going into her junior year of high school, Kurtz broke her femur which ultimately affected her college recruiting prospects. [2]

College career

For her freshman year of university Kurtz attended the University of Richmond during the 2013–2014 academic year. [3] After a season in which she started 18 games, she transferred to the University of South Carolina. [1] Kurtz went on to make 69 appearances for the Gamecocks. Her senior year she was named a First Team NSCAA All-American and First Team Scholar All-American, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and a MAC Herman Trophy Semifinalist.

Club career

Östersunds Dff

Following college, Kurtz played for Östersunds Dff in the Swedish Elitettan, fulfilling her desire to play overseas. She made 12 appearances and captained the side. [4] [5]

North Carolina Courage

Kurtz playing in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup final 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup final, 296 (cropped).jpg
Kurtz playing in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup final

Kurtz was a non-roster invitee during the 2018 Carolina preseason. She signed with the Courage in March 2018. [6] [7] She debuted on April 18, 2018, starting at center back against the OL Reign. She made 6 appearances in the 2018 regular season, as well as 2 in the 2018 Women's International Champions Cup. Kurtz' option for 2019 was picked up in October 2018. [8]

Kurtz played every minute of the regular season in 2022. [9] She signed a three-year contract with the Courage in November 2022. [9] She continued her "iron woman" streak through the 2023 season, when she was named to the NWSL Best XI second team with a league second-most 22 blocks. [10]

Canberra United

Kurtz spent the NWSL off season of 2019–2020 in the Australian W-League playing in the capital for Canberra United, on loan from the North Carolina Courage. She played every minute in the 12-game season for Canberra. During round 6, Kurtz broke her nose in the run of play having to come off shortly to get fully bandaged in order to stop the bleeding, and then competing in the final minutes of the game. She was later named to the round 6 Team of the Week. She tallied one assist during her time in Australia and led the league in clearances with a total of 69 clearances during the regular season. Kurtz capped off her time in Canberra by receiving the prestigious award, 2019/2020 Canberra United Player of the Year.

Honors

South Carolina Gamecocks

North Carolina Courage

Canberra United

Career statistics

As of April 20, 2019

LeagueClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsTotal
AppsAssistsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
NCAA University of Richmond Spiders 2013181000180
South Carolina Gamecocks 2014190060250
2015191110201
2016195160251
total7572130882
NWSL North Carolina Courage 2018 6000000
2019 000000
total6000060
Elitettan Östersunds DFF 2017120000120
total120000120
Career total93721301062

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cari Roccaro</span> American professional soccer player

Cari Elizabeth Roccaro is an American professional soccer midfielder from East Islip, New York, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League. She competed for the United States under-20 women's national soccer team and competed with the team to win the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup held in Tokyo, Japan. Roccaro previously played for the New York Fury in the WPSL Elite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Dunn</span> American soccer player (born 1992)

Crystal Alyssia Soubrier is an American professional soccer player for National Women's Soccer League club Portland Thorns FC and the United States women's national team. She first appeared for her country during an international friendly against Scotland on February 13, 2013. She has since made more than 100 total appearances for the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Ochs</span> American soccer forward (born 1990)

Stephanie Elise Ochs is an American soccer forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estelle Johnson</span> Cameroonian footballer (born 1988)

Estelle Laura Johnson is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a defender for NWSL club North Carolina Courage and the Cameroon national team. She previously played for Western New York Flash, Washington Spirit, and Gotham FC in the NWSL, Philadelphia Independence in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), and Sydney FC of Australia's W-League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abby Dahlkemper</span> American soccer player (born 1993)

Abigail Lynn Dahlkemper is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabrina D'Angelo</span> Canadian soccer player

Sabrina Victoria D'Angelo is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the Canada national team. D'Angelo was selected 21st overall in the 2015 NWSL College Draft by the Western New York Flash and is one of the few Canadian soccer players drafted directly from college.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Williams (soccer)</span> American professional soccer player

Lynn Raenie Williams is an American professional soccer player who plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She previously played for the Kansas City Current, Western New York Flash in NWSL and Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory in the Australian A-League Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Hamilton</span> American professional soccer player

Kristen Marie Hamilton is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Smith (soccer)</span> American professional soccer player

Taylor Nicole Smith is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She also played for the United States national team at both senior and youth levels. Smith helped lead the UCLA Bruins women's soccer team to its first-ever national title in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Hatch</span> American soccer player (born 1995)

Ashley Marie Hatch is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She has also played for the United States women's national soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Lussi</span> American soccer player (born 1995)

Tyler Tompkins Lussi is an American professional soccer player who currently plays for North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). In college she played for the Princeton Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savannah McCaskill</span> American professional soccer player

Savannah Elizabeth McCaskill is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team.

Joelle Catherine "Jaycie" Johnson is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker.

Hailie Jenae Mace is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League. She debuted for the United States women's national soccer team in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Fox (soccer)</span> American soccer player (born 1998)

Emily Ann Fox is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Allyson Paige Haran is a professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Canberra United of A-League Women. Born in Canada, she has been called up to youth national team camps by both Canada and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Williams (women's soccer)</span> American soccer player (born February 1996)

Ryan Emilie Williams is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the North Carolina Courage, a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaleigh Riehl</span> American soccer player (born 1996)

Kaleigh Ann Riehl is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Utah Royals.

Courtney Lynn Petersen is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Tatumn Marie Milazzo is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for National Women's Soccer League club Chicago Red Stars.

References

  1. 1 2 "2016 Women's Soccer Roster Kaleigh Kurtz". June 22, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  2. "Inverted Triangle: Kaleigh Kurtz of NC Courage". August 16, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  3. "2013 Women's Soccer Kaleigh Kurtz" . Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  4. "Kaleigh Kurtz soccerway" . Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  5. "Delad post melon off ochs vaster bk30 pa jamtkraft arena trots manger med chanser" . Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  6. "North Carolina Courage Completes Roster with signings of Crouse, Kurtz" . Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  7. "Greenville native signs with pro women's soccer team North Carolina Courage". April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  8. "NC Courage Aims to bring back core of 2018 NWSL Championship Team" . Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Courage extend defender Kaleigh Kurtz through 2025". North Carolina Courage. November 28, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  10. "Courage land four on NWSL Best XI, presented by Mastercard". North Carolina Courage. November 6, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.

Social media