Maya Alexandria Hayes (born March 26, 1992) is an American soccer coach and former player, who is currently the assistant coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's soccer team.[3]

Maya Hayes
Personal information
Full name Maya Alexandria Hayes[1][2]
Date of birth (1992-03-26) March 26, 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth New York City, U.S.
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Minnesota Golden Gophers (assistant)
Youth career
2000–2001 Montclair Blue
2002–2004 Montclair Starbursts
2005–2006 Match Fit PSV
2007–2009 Montclair Aristocats
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Penn State Nittany Lions 89 (71)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Sky Blue FC 74 (9)
International career
United States U-18
2010–2012 United States U-20 42 (16)
Managerial career
2018–2019 Auburn Tigers (GA)
2020– Minnesota Golden Gophers (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hayes last played in 2017 as a forward for Sky Blue FC of the National Women's Soccer League. A United States youth international, Hayes won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan.[4][1]

Early life edit

Hayes was born in New York City to Irene Smith and Derek Hayes. She has four siblings. Hayes attended Newark Academy, a private school located in Livingston, New Jersey. She grew up in West Orange, New Jersey.[5][2]

College career edit

Hayes attended Pennsylvania State University from 2010 to 2013 where she played for the Nittany Lions. In 2011, she scored 31 goals, earned 70 points, and led the nation in goals and points. She set a new Penn State and Big Ten Conference record for points in a single season.[2] Hayes finished her Penn State career having scored 71 goals in 89 matches, the third-most in program history.[2]

In January 2020, she was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's best XI of the 2010s.[6]

Club career edit

Hayes was selected by Sky Blue FC in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the 2014 NWSL College Draft.[7] A few weeks later, the team signed her.[8]

In 2018, it was announced that she had made the decision to sit out the 2018 NWSL season to pursue graduate studies at Auburn University.[5] She does not consider this an official retirement.[citation needed]

International career edit

Hayes previously played for the United States under-18 women's national soccer team. She competed for the United States at the 2010 and 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup tournaments.[9] On August 20, 2012, at Hiroshima Big Arch, she scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win against Ghana, in the first match played by the United States at the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup; the first goal was an own goal by Ghanaian Linda Addai.[10][11][12][13] Three days later, at the same venue, in the second match against China, she scored a 36th-minute equalizer goal to tie the game at 1-1, which was also the final score.[14] In their last match in Group D, the United States team conceded a 0–3 loss to Germany; and advanced to the second stage based on goal difference, with all goals scored by Hayes besides one aforementioned own goal.[10] With no further goal from Hayes in the knock-out stage, the United States team won the 2012 Japan FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup tournament with two goals from Kealia Ohai and one goal each from Vanessa DiBernardo and Morgan Brian.[15]

Personal life edit

Hayes identifies as gay.[16]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Maya Hayes". U.S. Soccer Federation.
  2. ^ a b c d "Maya Hayes Bio". Penn State Official Athletic Site.
  3. ^ "Maya Hayes Named Assistant Coach for Gopher Women's Soccer". Minnesota Golden Gophers. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  4. ^ "United States under-20 women's national team player pool". U.S. Soccer Federation. Archived from the original on August 16, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Maya Hayes to Sit Out 2018 NWSL Season". skybluefc.com. Sky Blue FC. February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  6. ^ Porterfield, Andrew (January 3, 2020). "Former Penn State women's soccer player Maya Hayes named to TopDrawerSoccer's Best XI of the Decade". collegian.psu.edu. Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  7. ^ Giase, Frank (January 17, 2014). "Sky Blue FC selects Maya Hayes with their first round pick in NWSL Draft". NJ.com. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  8. ^ "Sky Blue FC Sign Forward Maya Hayes". National Women's Soccer League. February 5, 2014. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  9. ^ "Maya Hayes". FIFA. Archived from the original on July 19, 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Maya Hayes' hat trick buoys U.S." ESPN. Associated Press. August 20, 2012.
  11. ^ "Maya Hayes scores hat trick as US beats Ghana 4-0 at women's U20 World Cup in Japan". Washington Post.[dead link]
  12. ^ "2012 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup: USA 4-0 Ghana: Maya Hayes' hat-trick sinks Black Princesses". goal.com.
  13. ^ Hakala, Josh (August 20, 2012). "Maya Hayes leads US women to 4-0 win over Ghana in Under-20 World Cup; U-M player leads Canada romp (video)". mLive. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  14. ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012: USA 1:1 China PR - Summary". FIFA. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012.
  15. ^ "FIFA Player Statistics: Maya HAYES". FIFA. Archived from the original on July 19, 2010.
  16. ^ "Maya Hayes". www.facebook.com.

External links edit