North Carolina arguably has one of the richest traditions of women’s soccer in the United States. Championships, national team players and excellence is not just habitual, but it is expected from the state that claims Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Heather O’Reilly as its own.
Starting in the early 1980’s, North Carolina established itself as a women’s soccer powerhouse. By the 1990’s, the nation’s best players came from North Carolina Universities. 2000 and beyond saw the first ever women’s professional team in the state, and today, the highest level of women’s soccer returns as the North Carolina Courage.
From the top down, North Carolina has produced dozens of local, national and international legends.
US Women’s National Team:
North Carolina claims three former US Women’s National Team coaches: Anson Dorrance (current UNC Women’s Soccer coach) from 1986-1994, Lauren Gregg (former UNC women’s soccer player) in 1997,2000 and April Heinrichs (former UNC women’s soccer standout and USWNT captain) from 2000-2004.
Since 1991, there have been at least two former North Carolina collegiate players on the roster for the Women’s World Cup. Over 55 North Carolina collegiate players have made US international game appearances.
Recent US Women’s National team players with North Carolina collegiate and profaessional ties include Meghan Klingenberg, Heather O’Reilly, Crystal Dunn, Ashlyn Harris, Tobin Heath, Allie Long, Jessica McDonald and Kealia Ohai.
NCAA Women’s Soccer:
North Carolina is home to the winningest program in US soccer history, the North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC has won 22 out of 36 NCAA Championships and 38 ACC Championships. The Tar Heels boast 70 first-team All Americans, the most in NCAA history. Five former UNC players are in the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
North Carolina State University has produced three USWNT players and most notably housed current USWNT Head Coach Jill Ellis as an assistant coach from 1988-1990. The Wolfpack has made 12 NCAA tournament appearances and produced seven NCAA All-Americans. Former Wolfpacker Charmaine Hooper scored 71 goals in 128 appearances with the Canadian National Team during her impressive 20 year international career (1986-2006). She is regarded as one of the greatest Canadian players of all time. Laura Kerrigan, an NSCAA first-team All-American who played for NC State from 1985-1989, stayed in the area and coached the Wolfpack starting in 1997. Since then, she has transitioned to coaching high school soccer at Cary High School in NC.
Carla Overbeck has kept her collegiate, professional and coaching career in North Carolina. The former USWNT captain played for UNC, the Carolina Courage and is the current Duke University women’s assistant coach. Duke has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances and produced nine NCAA All-Americans.
Wake Forest University, led by Tony da Luz, father of longtime Carolina RailHawks (now North Carolina FC) player Austin da Luz, has made 18 NCAA College Cup Appearances and produced four NCAA All-Americans.
Professional Women’s Soccer:
North Carolina’s former professional women’s team upheld the state’s champions legacy as it won the Founders Cup in 2002. The Carolina Courage played in North Carolina from 2001-2003 before the WUSA folded in 2003. The Courage played at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill in their inaugural season before moving to WakeMed Soccer Park (then SAS Soccer Park) in 2002. Notable former Carolina Courage players include current Duke assistant coach and former USWNT captain Carla Overbeck, former USWNT member Danielle Fotopoulos, and Fox Sports analyst and former USWNT member Danielle Slaton.
Excellence in Youth Programs:
North Carolina youth clubs have produced hundreds of collegiate and professional women’s soccer players. Capital Area Soccer League in Raleigh, NC is one of the largest youth soccer clubs in the nation with over 700 teams. Local standout Casey Nogueira grew up playing for CASL and went on to become a standout for UNC and played for the US Women’s National Team. Former Triangle Futbol Club player Indi Cowie has gone on to become a world-known freestyle juggler after playing and coaching for UNC in 2013.
The North Carolina Courage looks forward to continuing this legacy of excellence and create history of our own. Join our family today to be a part of the tradition.
