Sarah Foley

Last updated

Sarah Foley
Personal information
Date of birth 2003 (age 2223)
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position Forward
Youth career
Lou Fusz
2019–2022 Belleville West Maroons
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2025 Illinois Fighting Illini 69 (22)

Sarah Foley (born 2003) is an American soccer player who plays as a forward. She played college soccer for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Contents

Early life

Foley grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Belleville, Illinois. [1] She played club soccer for Lou Fusz Athletic, winning the USYS under-16 national title in 2019. [2] She committed to play college soccer for Illinois in her junior year at Belleville High School-West. [3]

College career

Foley scored 2 goals in 13 games for the Illinois Fighting Illini as a freshman in 2022. [1] She almost quit the sport after her freshman season but soon rediscovered her love for the game. [4] She became a starter as a sophomore in 2023, scoring 2 goals in 17 games. [1] In her junior year in 2024, she scored a career-high 11 goals in 18 games, the most by an Illinois player since 2015, and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. [1] After longtime head coach Janet Rayfield retired, she had an impressive start to her senior season under Katie Hultin in 2025, with her first goal of the season making SportsCenter 's top 10 plays. [5] She started all 21 games, co-led the team with 7 goals, and had a career-high 3 assists, being named second-team All-Big Ten for the second time. [1] She helped lead the Fighting Illini to their first Big Ten tournament berth since 2020, their first NCAA tournament berth since 2013, and their highest win total since 2011. [6]

Club career

Foley joined the Houston Dash as a non-roster invitee in the 2026 preseason. [7]

Honors and awards

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sarah Foley". Illinois Fighting Illini. January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  2. "US Youth Soccer National League 2019-20 Season Preview: 17U Girls". SoccerWire. November 21, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  3. Clark, Travis (October 5, 2020). "SIMA Recruiting Roundup: October 5-11". TopDrawerSoccer . Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  4. Bravo, Said (October 30, 2025). "'A total soccer junkie': How Sarah Foley fell for the sport, became a star behind Illini soccer's upward push". 247Sports . Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  5. Wright, Joey (September 11, 2025). "Strong play from Foley keying Illini's success". The News-Gazette . Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  6. Bedell, Jake (November 10, 2025). "Illinois women's soccer qualifies for NCAA tourney birth, first time over a decade". WAND . Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  7. "Houston Dash Announce 2026 Preseason Roster". Houston Dash. January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.