Sarah G. Clark (born March 26, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Canberra United FC of the A-League Women. She previously played for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Purdue Boilermakers and Virginia Cavaliers.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | March 26, 1999 | ||
Place of birth | Durham, North Carolina | ||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Canberra United FC | ||
Number | 3 | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2017–2019 | Purdue | 36 | (3) |
2020–2022 | Virginia | 61 | (0) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023 | North Carolina Courage | 0 | (0) |
2023– | Canberra United FC | 16 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 30, 2024 |
Early life edit
Clark was born in Durham, North Carolina, and grew up in Brighton, Michigan.[1] She is the youngest of four children of Purdue University alumni Bill and Lori Clark.[1] 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.[2] Clark developed her corner kick ability from a young age while practicing with her brother.[3]
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.[1] She graduated from Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan.[1]
College career edit
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.[1][3] She moved to play defensive center midfield in her sophomore season, leading the team with six assists and converting three penalty kicks.[1][3] She was named team captain the next year but sat out the season with a medical redshirt.[2]
Clark transferred to the University of Virginia in 2020.[4] She made 61 appearances in three seasons as a defender.[2][5]
Club career edit
North Carolina Courage, 2023 edit
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.[6] 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.[5] She played in one other league cup game that season as the Courage defended their Challenge Cup title.[5]
Canberra United, 2023– edit
Clark was signed by Canberra United FC of Australia's A-League Women in December 2023.[7][8]
Career statistics edit
- As of match played March 30, 2024
Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Playoffs[b] | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
North Carolina Courage | 2023 | NWSL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Canberra United FC | 2023–24 | A-League | 16 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||
Career total | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
Honors edit
North Carolina Courage
Notes edit
- ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
- ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs, A-League Women Finals series
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "Sarah Clark – Soccer". Purdue University Athletics. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Sarah Clark". Virginia Cavaliers. August 7, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c Baird, Nathan (September 18, 2018). "Purdue soccer defender Sarah Clark coming up big from the corner". Journal & Courier. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "Virginia Women's Soccer Announces 2020–21 Newcomers". Virginia Cavaliers. May 4, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Sarah Clark". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "Courage sign three to National Team replacement contracts". North Carolina Courage. June 27, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "US Defender Clark Adds to United Squad". Canberra United FC. December 14, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ Polkinghorne, David (December 13, 2024). "Canberra bolsters backline stocks with US college star". The Canberra Times.
External links edit
- Sarah Clark at Soccerway