Sarah Clark (soccer)

Last updated

Sarah Clark
2023 NWSL Challenge Cup final, 583 (Clark).jpg
Clark with the North Carolina Courage in 2023
Personal information
Full name Sarah Grace Clark [1]
Date of birth (1999-03-26) March 26, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Durham, North Carolina
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Spokane Zephyr
Number 5
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2019 Purdue Boilermakers 36 (3)
2020–2022 Virginia Cavaliers 61 (0)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023 North Carolina Courage 0 (0)
2023–2024 Canberra United 16 (1)
2024– Spokane Zephyr 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 15, 2024

Sarah Grace Clark (born March 26, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Spokane Zephyr FC of the USL Super League. She previously played for the North Carolina Courage and Canberra United FC. She played college soccer for the Purdue Boilermakers and Virginia Cavaliers.

Contents

Early life

Clark was born in Durham, North Carolina, and grew up in Brighton, Michigan. [2] She is the youngest of four children of Purdue University alumni Bill and Lori Clark. [2] Her family often played pickup soccer while in North Carolina in the summer; her uncle Mike Clark played professionally for the Columbus Crew, and her brother, Will, later played for UNC Wilmington in college. [3] Clark developed her corner kick ability from a young age while practicing with her brother. [4]

Clark played club soccer for the Michigan Hawks' youth squad, winning five straight Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) conference titles from 2013 to 2017 and back-to-back ECNL national championships in 2016 and 2017. [2] She graduated from Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan. [2]

College career

Clark regularly started as a center back in her first season at Purdue in 2017 and was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team. [2] [4] She moved to play defensive center midfield in her sophomore season, leading the team with six assists and converting three penalty kicks. [2] [4] She was named team captain the next year but sat out the season with a medical redshirt. [3]

Clark transferred to the University of Virginia in 2020. [5] She made 61 appearances in three seasons as a defender. [3] [6]

Club career

North Carolina Courage, 2023

After going undrafted in the 2023 NWSL Draft, Clark was signed by the North Carolina Courage as a national team replacement player in June 2023. [7] She assisted on a Haley Hopkins goal in her professional debut, a 5–0 Challenge Cup win against the Orlando Pride on July 29, 2023. [6] She played in one other league cup game that season as the Courage defended their Challenge Cup title. [6]

Canberra United, 2023–2024

Clark was signed by Canberra United FC of Australia's A-League Women in December 2023. [8] [9]

Spokane Zephyr FC, 2024–

Clark signed with USL Super League club Spokane Zephyr FC on May 28, 2024, ahead of the league's inaugural 2024–25 season. [10] On August 27, she appeared in the starting lineup of Zephyr's first-ever game, which they drew to Fort Lauderdale United FC 1–1. [11]

Career statistics

As of match played March 30, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCup [a] Playoffs [b] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
North Carolina Courage 2023 NWSL 00200020
Canberra United FC 2023–24 A-League 161——161
Career total1612000181

Honors

North Carolina Courage

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ↑ Includes NWSL Playoffs, A-League Women Finals series

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References

  1. ↑ "One Hundred and Ninety Third FINAL EXERCISES" (PDF). University of Virginia. p. 36. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sarah Clark – Soccer". Purdue University Athletics . Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Sarah Clark". Virginia Cavaliers. August 7, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Baird, Nathan (September 18, 2018). "Purdue soccer defender Sarah Clark coming up big from the corner". Journal & Courier . Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Virginia Women's Soccer Announces 2020–21 Newcomers". Virginia Cavaliers. May 4, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Sarah Clark". North Carolina Courage . Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Courage sign three to National Team replacement contracts". North Carolina Courage. June 27, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  8. ↑ "US Defender Clark Adds to United Squad". Canberra United FC. December 14, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  9. ↑ Polkinghorne, David (December 13, 2024). "Canberra bolsters backline stocks with US college star" . The Canberra Times .
  10. ↑ USL Spokane (May 28, 2024). "Defender Sarah Clark Joins Spokane Zephyr FC, Bringing Experience to the Backline". Spokane Zephyr FC. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Spokane Zephyr FC 1–1 Fort Lauderdale United FC". USL Super League . Retrieved August 29, 2024.
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