Sofia Manner

Last updated
Sofia Manner
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-09-11) September 11, 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth Helsinki, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Orlando Pride
Number 21
Youth career
2009–2016 HJK
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2019 Stony Brook Seawolves 61 (0)
2021 Lynn Fighting Knights 13 (0)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2021 Honka 11 (0)
2022 Fjölnir 10 (0)
2023 Honka 23 (0)
2024– Orlando Pride 0 (0)
International career
2012 Finland U16
2013 Finland U17
2014 Finland U18
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 October 2023

Sofia Manner (born 11 September 1997) is a Finnish professional footballer who currently plays for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States.

Contents

Manner moved to the United States to attend college at Stony Brook University, where she played three seasons for the Stony Brook Seawolves. She won the America East Rookie of the Year award as a freshman in 2017, and won the America East Goalkeeper of the Year award in both her next two seasons. With Manner, Stony Brook made two NCAA Tournaments and won two America East championships.

In 2021, she signed with FC Honka of Kansallinen Liiga (National League), the highest league of Finnish football. Ahead of the 2024 season, she signed a two-year contract with the Orlando Pride of NWSL, making history as the first player in history to transfer from Finland's highest league to the NWSL. [2] [3]

Youth career

Manner played for HJK Helsinki from 2009 to 2016. She also played on Finland's International School Sport Federation (ISF) team for futsal, which finished in second place in the world championships. [4]

College career

Manner moved to the United States to play for Stony Brook University's collegiate Seawolves team. She committed to the program because she knew another Finnish woman who was an au pair for an American family with connections to a Stony Brook women's soccer team staff member. [5]

In her freshman season in 2017, Manner won the America East Rookie of the Year award after finishing second in the league with a 0.68 GAA in conference play. [6] Stony Brook won the America East championship as Manner made five saves in the title game against Vermont. [7] Stony Brook lost to Penn State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. [8]

In 2018, Manner won the America East Goalkeeper of the Year award as a sophomore, leading Stony Brook to a regular season title while leading the conference with a .794 save percentage and seven shutouts. [9] Manner won her second consecutive America East Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2019 as Stony Brook won the America East championship for the second time in three years and returned to face Penn State again in the NCAA Tournament. [10] Her nine shutouts were one short of the all-time single-season program record. [11]

Manner's planned senior season was postponed to spring 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. She graduated from Stony Brook instead in December 2020 to pursue a professional career. In just three seasons, Manner ended her Stony Brook career with a 1.14 GAA, the fourth-best in program history, and 20 shutouts, the third-most. [5]

After playing 11 games for FC Honka, Manner returned to the United States to study for her Master's degree in digital media in 2021, joining Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. She played 13 times for Lynn and was named first team all-conference and recorded a season-high of eight saves in three separate games. [12] [13]

Club career

Manner signed with FC Honka in 2021 in Espoo. [14]

In 2022, Manner signed with UMF Fjölnir of Iceland's 1. deild karla, where she was the starting goalkeeper and played 10 games. [15] [16]

She returned to FC Honka in 2023, where she allowed the least goals in the league during the season. Manner was named Player of the Month in April and won Goalkeeper of the Month twice. She recorded 10 clean sheets and was named to the All-Star team by Yle. She was awarded Goalkeeper of the Year and was also nominated for the Best Player Award. [17]

On 1 December 2023, Manner signed with National Women's Soccer League club Orlando Pride on a two-year deal, with an option for an additional year. [18] She became the first player to transfer from Finland's Kansallinen Liiga to the NWSL, and it was reported that the transfer fee was the highest received in the history of the Kansallinen Liiga. [3] [19]

International career

Between 2012 and 2015, Manner was capped by Finland at under-16, [20] under-17 and under-18 level. [21] She played during the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification rounds. [22]

Honours

Stony Brook Seawolves

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FC Honka</span> Finnish football club

FC Honka is a Finnish football club based in Espoo. It was founded in 1957 as Tapion Honka, and changed its name to FC Honka in 1975. The club will play in Kakkonen in the 2024 season, after Esport Honka filed for bankruptcy in November 2023. The club previously played in the Finnish premier division (Veikkausliiga), having been promoted for the first time in their history at the end of the 2005 season. It plays its home matches at the Tapiolan Urheilupuisto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stony Brook Seawolves</span> Athletic teams of Stony Brook University

The Stony Brook Seawolves are the intercollegiate athletics teams that represent Stony Brook University (SBU) in Stony Brook, New York. The Seawolves play as members of the Coastal Athletic Association, which competes at the NCAA Division I level. Stony Brook had previously been a part of the America East Conference from 2001 to 2022, though has competed in CAA Football since 2013. The university's mascot is Wolfie the Seawolf, and the official colors of the Seawolves are red, grey, and blue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stony Brook Seawolves baseball</span> Stony Brook University baseball team

The Stony Brook Seawolves baseball team represents Stony Brook University in NCAA Division I men's college baseball. Stony Brook currently competes in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and plays its home games on Joe Nathan Field. Matt Senk has coached the team since the beginning of the 1991 season. The team has won the America East tournament six times in 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2019. In 2011, the Seawolves claimed their first America East regular season championship. Stony Brook has participated in the NCAA tournament on six separate occasions, winning its first game in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Koivisto</span> Finnish footballer (born 1994)

Emma Wilhelmina Koivisto is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Liverpool and the Finland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Brenton</span> American basketball player

Thomas Brenton is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Stony Brook Seawolves of the America East Conference, where he won the 2013 Lefty Driesell Award, given to the top defensive player in Division I college basketball. Brenton also won the 2013 America East Conference Player of the Year, becoming the second player from Stony Brook to earn the award. He played professionally in Japan for the Link Tochigi Brex of the B.League from 2013 to 2017.

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

Aubrey Renee Kingsbury is an American professional soccer player who plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League and for the United States national soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Orlando Pride season</span> Orlando Pride 2016 soccer season

The 2016 season was Orlando Pride's inaugural season. The team competes in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aline (footballer, born 1989)</span> Brazilian footballer

Aline Villares Reis, known as Aline, is a Brazilian professional footballer who most recently played as a goalkeeper for Spanish club UD Granadilla Tenerife in the 2022–23 Liga F season. Between 2016 and 2021 she made 15 appearances for the Brazil national team. She is also a former women's football coach who most recently served as the goalkeeping coach for Orlando Pride in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

The 2018 America East Conference women's soccer tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the America East Conference held from October 25 through November 4, 2018. The five-match tournament took place at campus sites, with the higher seed hosting. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular season conference play. The defending champions were the Stony Brook Seawolves, who were unable to defend their title after losing in the Quarterfinals to UMass Lowell. Albany won their third tournament in 4 years after a 5–1 victory in the final.

Elaine Margaret Burdett is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Vittsjö GIK.

Kayla Lynne Sharples is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Bay FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Brittany Isenhour is a retired American professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper for Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

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

Taylor Aylmer is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder.

The 2021 America East Conference women's soccer tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the America East Conference held from October 31 through November 7, 2021. The five-match tournament took place at campus sites, with the higher seed hosting. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular season conference play. The defending champions were the Stony Brook Seawolves, who were unable to defend their title after not qualifying for the tournament. Vermont won their first tournament in program history after a 1–0 victory in the final. It was the first victory for eleventh year head coach Kristi Huizenga. As tournament champions, Vermont earned the America East's automatic berth into the 2021 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Orlando Pride season</span> Orlando Pride 2022 soccer season

The 2022 Orlando Pride season was Orlando Pride's seventh season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Kaylie Ann Collins is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League.

Jada Talley is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) of the Finnish Kansallinen Liiga.

Jacqueline Sadie Altschuld is an American soccer player who is currently a midfielder for the FC Honka of the Kansallinen Liiga in Finland. Prior to that, she played for the San Diego Wave FC of the NWSL in the US. She has also played with UMF Tindastóll in Iceland and was part of the team that got promoted to the country's top-tier league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Orlando Pride season</span> Orlando Pride 2024 soccer season

The 2024 Orlando Pride season is Orlando Pride's ninth season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">America East Conference women's soccer tournament</span>

The America East women's soccer tournament is the conference championship tournament in soccer for the America East Conference. The tournament has been held every year since 1994. It is a single-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season records. The winner, declared conference champion, receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I women's soccer championship.

References

  1. ↑ "Orlando Pride Signs Goalkeeper Sofia Manner to Two-Year Contract | Orlando Pride".
  2. ↑ "Hongan maalivahti Manner tekee historiaa – hyppää Kansallisesta liigasta NWLS-ammattilaissarjaan". Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  3. 1 2 "FC Hongan Sofia Manner tekee historiaa – suoraan Kansallisesta liigasta NWSL-sarjaan". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  4. ↑ "Stony Brook adds 13 for 2017 season". Stony Brook University Athletics. 2017-02-13. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  5. 1 2 "Women's Soccer Teammates Give Graduating Goalie Sofia Manner Sendoff". Stony Brook University Athletics. 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  6. ↑ "#AEWSOC Standouts from 5 Programs Earn Major Awards as 2017 Hardware is Handed Out". americaeast.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  7. ↑ Staff, Free Press Sports. "Stony Brook denies Vermont in America East final". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  8. ↑ Lewis, Michael (2017-11-11). "No Contest: Penn State women roll over Stony Brook in NCAA D-I, 7-0". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  9. ↑ "2018 #AEWSOC Annual Awards Bestowed on Eve of League Championship". americaeast.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  10. ↑ "Stony Brook Captures Second #AEWSOC Title in Three Seasons". americaeast.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  11. ↑ "Seawolves Place Three, Including First-Ever First Teamer, on United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Team". Stony Brook University Athletics. 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  12. ↑ "2021 All-SSC Women's Soccer Team Announced". sunshinestateconference.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  13. ↑ "Sofia Manner - 2021 - Women's Soccer". Lynn University. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  14. ↑ "AE Goalie of Year Sofia Manner Joins Soccer Club in Native Finland". Stony Brook University Athletics. 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  15. ↑ "Sofia Manner" (in Finnish).
  16. ↑ "Leikmaður - Sofia Manner". www.ksi.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  17. ↑ "Captain's Ball 2023 – Palkitut osa 3". Palloliitto.fi (in Finnish).
  18. ↑ Staff And Wire Reports (2023-12-01). "Pride make another offseason move, add goalkeeper". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  19. ↑ "FC Hongan Sofia Manner tekee historiaa – Siirtyy Kansallisesta liigasta NWSL-ammattilaissarjaan". FC Honka Naiset. December 2023.
  20. ↑ "TU16 UEFA-turnaukseen Latviaan". uutisarkisto.palloliitto.fi.
  21. ↑ "Jalkapallokirja 2016" (PDF) (in Finnish).
  22. ↑ "S. Manner - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.