Maya Neal

Last updated
Maya Neal
Personal information
Full name Maya Camille Neal
Date of birth (1996-12-22) 22 December 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Naperville, Illinois, United States
Height 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2015–2019 Tennessee Volunteers 79 (3)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2021 Le Havre 5 (0)
2023 UMF Afturelding 18 (7)
2024-Present BIIK Shymkent
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Maya Camille Neal (born 22 December 1996) is a Liberian footballer and athlete. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Neal was born on 22 December 1996 in Naperville, Illinois. [2] She competed in her first triathlon at the age of nine. [3] Neal attended Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville. [4]

Neal attended the University of Tennessee, where she majored in political science. [5] She was a multi-sport athlete for the Lady Vols, competing for the varsity soccer and track and field teams. [6] She was regarded as one of the soccer team's most important players. [7] She tore her meniscus in her collegiate soccer debut. [8]

Neal represented Liberia at the 2016 African Championships in Athletics. [9]

Style of play

Neal has been described as having an "attack-minded defending style". [10]

Personal life

Neal is the daughter of Michelle Neal, an immigration attorney who was born in Liberia. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers</span> University of Tennessee athletic teams

The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In January 2021, Danny White was introduced as the Volunteers' Director of Athletics.

Benita Fitzgerald Mosley is a retired American athlete, who mainly competed in the women's 100 metres hurdles event. Currently, Benita is a CEO of the company Multiplying Good with their mission being "to inspire greatness through service to others."

Curtis Cliff "Chip" Kell was an American professional football player who was a center in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football and participated in track and field for the Tennessee Volunteers. Kell was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Fotopoulos</span> American soccer coach and former player

Danielle Ruth Fotopoulos is an American soccer coach and former player. Fotopoulos holds the all-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I records for goals and points, and was a member of the University of Florida team that won the 1998 NCAA women's soccer championship, and also the United States national team that won the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was the head coach of the Eckerd women's soccer team until 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Brothers Buccaneers and Lady Buccaneers</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Christian Brothers University

The Christian Brothers University Buccaneers and Lady Buccaneers are the athletic teams that represent Christian Brothers University, located in Memphis, Tennessee, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Buccaneers have primarily competed in the Gulf South Conference since the 1996–97 academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhian Wilkinson</span> Canadian soccer coach and former player

Rhian Emilie Wilkinson is a Canadian professional soccer coach and former player, who currently coaches the Wales women's national team. She was previously the head coach of Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where she led the team to the 2022 NWSL Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carson–Newman Eagles</span> Athletic teams for Carson-Newman University

The Carson-Newman Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Carson–Newman University, located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Eagles compete as members of the South Atlantic Conference for all 21 varsity sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field</span> American college track and field team

The Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field program represents the University of Tennessee in the sport of track and field. The indoor and outdoor programs compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Vols host their home outdoor meets at the newly renovated Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium, located on the university's Knoxville, Tennessee campus. Their rich tradition of success features 4 national titles, 7 finishes as national runner-ups, 62 NCAA individual champions, numerous All-Americans, 25 Olympians, 43 SEC championships, and 109 combined scoring appearances in the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. The team is led by current head coach Duane Ross who took over the program after Beth Alford-Sullivan in May 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Punt</span> New Zealand field hockey player

Anita McLaren is a New Zealand field hockey player. She competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team from 2009 to 2018, including for the team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brianna Rollins-McNeal</span> American track and field athlete

Brianna Rollins-McNeal is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100 metres hurdles. She is the 2016 Olympic champion and the 2013 World champion in the 100 metres hurdles. Her time of 12.26 is tied as the fourth-fastest run in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nia Ali</span> American track and field athlete

Nia Ali is an American track and field athlete, who specializes in the 100 m hurdles, heptathlon, and other events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lennie Waite</span> British track and field athlete (born 1986)

Lennie Waite is a British track and field athlete. She represented Great Britain in the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 3000m Steeplechase. She holds a personal best of 9:35.91 in the 3000m Steeplechase, achieved on 12 June 2016 at the Portland Track Festival. She is the sixth fastest British Steeplechaser of all-time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dezerea Bryant</span> American sprinter

Dezerea Bryant is an American sprinter competing in the 100 metres and 200 m. She was the 200 m national champion in 2019. At the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, she placed 5th in the 200 m and earned a bronze medal in the Women's 4x100m Relay. She has earned 17 NCAA Division 1 All-American honors and won the NCAA 200m championship in 2015 over The Bowerman Award Winner, Jenna Prandini. Bryant set a low-altitude collegiate record in 200 metres with 22.18. No, she is not the sister of American football player Dez Bryant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Krueger</span> American soccer player (born 1990)

Casey Marie Krueger is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She previously played for Norwegian club Avaldsnes IL and the Chicago Red Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keturah Orji</span> American triple jumper (born 1996)

Keturah Orji is an American track and field athlete specializing in the triple jump. She has set a new US triple jump record twice.

Dedra Davis is a retired Bahamian athlete who specialised in the long jump and sprinting events. She represented her country at the 1993 World Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebony Morrison</span> American hurdler (born 1994)

Ebony Leea Morrison is a Liberian-American hurdler. Her paternal ancestry traces to Liberia, which allows her to compete for the country. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, she represented Liberia. She ran a time of 12.74 in the women's 100m hurdles and was a semi finalist. She will also compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abby Steiner</span> American track and field athlete

Abby Kathryn Steiner is an American track and field sprinter. She is the U.S. indoor record holder in the 200 m and 300 m, and the NCAA record holder in the 200 m. Steiner holds personal bests of 10.90 seconds over 100 m and 21.77 seconds over 200 m.

Rae Burrell is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers after attending Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, where she was named the Las Vegas Review-Journal Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maia McCoy</span> Liberian athlete (born 1996)

Maia Alyse McCoy is an American sprinter, who currently represents Liberia.

References

  1. "Maya Neal Ready to Play for Lone Star". frontpageafricaonline.com. 9 December 2022.
  2. "Maya Neal". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  3. "Maya Neal not satisfied, but takes third at Arcadia". Chicago Tribune . 16 April 2015.
  4. "Maya Neal: The Final New Balance Indoor Nationals Journal". milesplit.com.
  5. "Maya Neal a leader on defense, advocate for the people of Liberia". knoxnews.com.
  6. "Maya Neal, Gives 11 Pieces of Advice on Recruiting and More". 2adays.com.
  7. "Nothing gets past Maya Neal". espn.co.uk. 15 November 2018.
  8. "Maya Neal is a 'rock' for Tennessee women's soccer". knoxnews.com.
  9. 1 2 "Dual Athlete, Dual Citizen".
  10. "Maya Neal is a willing and vocal supporter of her homeland". andscape.com. 16 November 2018.