Nickolette Taylor Driesse (born November 8, 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Born in the mainland United States, she plays for the Puerto Rico women's national team. She last played for ŽNK Split in the Croatian First Division.[2] In May 2019, Driesse was appointed as head coach of Northern Highlands girls soccer team.[3]
.jpg) Driesse with Florida State in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nickolette Taylor Driesse[1] | ||
| Date of birth | November 8, 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Wayne, New Jersey, U.S. | ||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wayne Hills High School | |||
| Player Development Academy | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2014 | Florida State Seminoles | 48 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | Penn State Nittany Lions | 48 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017 | Orlando Pride | 4 | (0) |
| 2018 | Sky Blue | 1 | (0) |
| 2018 | Split | 7 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012 | United States U18 | ||
| 2013–2014 | United States U20 | ||
| 2021– | Puerto Rico | 4 | (2) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 25, 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 23, 2021 | |||
Early years
editDriesse grew up in Wayne, New Jersey and attended Wayne Hills High School,[4] where she scored 88 goals and notched 46 assists. She was nominated all-League, all-County and all-State each of the four years that she played for Wayne Hills HS. Driesse was named All-County Player of the Year as a sophomore and was also nominated All-State Player of the Year as a junior. In 2012, she was included in the first team ESPN High School All-America.[5][6]
College career
editAfter a very successful career at high school, Driesse was contacted by several colleges and universities and in the fall of her junior year at Wayne Hills High School she committed with North Carolina Tar Heel. However, as a senior she declined to sign a Letter of intent, finally deciding for Florida State University.[7] Driesse played two seasons at Florida. In 2013, she was the only Seminole freshman to play all 28 matches in the season (starting 27). She also helped the team to reach the finals of the 2013 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament where they eventually lost, in the final, for the UCLA Bruins. For her performance in this year, she earned several accolades, including being nominated for the All-ACC Freshman Team, Soccer America All-Freshman First Team, ACC All-Academic Team and TopDrawerSoccer.com Freshmen Best XI Second Team. In the next year, as a sophomore, Driesse saw her time on the field severely cut. She only started six matches in the season as her team claimed the 2014 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament. She, then, decided for a transfer. In the beginning of 2015, unhappy with her short playing time and her tactical position on the field (she was playing as a holding midfielder, when her preferred position is as an attacking midfielder) she traded the Seminoles for the Nittany Lions. She chose Penn State mostly because of coach Erica Walsh that she knew from her previously experience with the United States U20 team. "I wanted a coach who was invested in me. I knew Coach Walsh would push me hard and focus on the small details that would help make me the best player possible", she stated. From the beginning, Driesse played a key role at Penn State. Playing in all 27 matches (including 20 starts) and recording four goals and six assists. She helped their team to win the 2015 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament. Making her a back-to-back champion for two different universities. In 2016, as a senior, Driesse was named co-captain and started all 21 matches she played. She was also nominated for the All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten All tournament Team and Academic All-Big Ten.[8][9][10]
Club career
editIn 2012 and 2013, Driesse played for the North Jersey Valkyries at the W-League.[11]
On 12 January 2017, Driesse was picked by Orlando Pride in the 2017 NWSL College Draft. She was the 32nd pick overall.[12][13][14][15] On 29 April 2017, Driesse made her debut, replacing Chioma Ubogagu in the 82nd minute of the match against North Carolina Courage.[16]
She was waived by the club on 9 February 2018.[17]
International career
editIn 2012, Driesse was called for the United States U18 team. In 2013, Driesse attended several camps with the United States U20 team. On 17 July 2014, Driesse was surprisingly included by coach Michelle French in the 21-players roster that represented the United States at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Canada. She was one of the seven players called, who were not a part of the team that won the 2014 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. She didn't play any minute at the World Cup and United States was eliminated for North Korea in the Quarterfinals.[18][19]
In May 2021, Driesse was called up by Puerto Rico.[20] She made her senior debut on 15 June that year in a 0–3 friendly away loss to Uruguay.[21]
International goals
edit- As of match played 23 October 2021. Scores and results list Puerto Rico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Driesse goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
20 October 2021 | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico |  Guyana |
5–0 |
6–1 |
Friendly | |
2 |
23 October 2021 | 1–0 |
2–1 |
Honors
editFlorida State Seminoles
Penn State Nittany Lions
References
edit- ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 – List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. August 8, 2016. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 2, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "Balun br.15-2018" (PDF). nszsd.hr (in Croatian). September 27, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ Cooper, Darren (May 21, 2019). "Nickolette Driesse steps into big role as new Northern Highlands girls soccer coach". northjersey.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ Stiansen, Lauara Adams. "Wayne native Nickolette Driesse gets her kicks on Orlando's professional women's soccer team" Archived 8 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Record, 12 September 2017. Accessed 8 October 2017.
- ^ "23 – NICKOLETTE DRIESSE". Go PSU Sports. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "3 – NICKOLETTE DRIESSE". Seminoles. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ Giuffra, Brian A.; Czerwinski, Mark J.; Idec, Keith. "It wasn't easy for Nickolette Driesse to walk away from her dream school. But in the end, that's what the Wayne Hills soccer star did". North Jersey. Retrieved May 6, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Shwalb, Bob. "Driesse wins back-to-back women's soccer crowns on different teams". North Jersey. Retrieved May 6, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "15 W-League Players to Watch in 2015". Top Drawer Soccer. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ Kasales, Ethan (August 24, 2016). "Nickolette Driesse Sets Winning Standard For Women's Soccer". Onward State. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "Nickolette Driesse re-signs for 2013 season". NJ Valkyries. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ Lawlor, Christopher. "Wayne Hills' Driesse drafted by Orlando Pride". North Jersey. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ Connelly, Steve (January 13, 2017). "Nickolette Driesse Selected By Orlando Pride in the NWSL Draft". Onward State. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ David, Austin. "2017 NWSL Draft: Pride Selects MF Nickolette Driesse". The Mane Land. Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ Cary, Allison. "Nickolette Driesse and Jamia Fields: Best Friends Meet Again On The Soccer Pitch". Orlando City SC. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE VS ORLANDO PRIDE 3–1". Scorersway. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "Orlando Pride Waives Midfielder Nickolette Driesse". February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ "HEAD COACH MICHELLE FRENCH NAMES USA'S FIFA U-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP ROSTER". US Soccer. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "NICKOLETTE DRIESSE". US Soccer. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ^ "Puerto Rico y Uruguay jugarán amistosos femeninos el 12 y 15 de junio" (in Spanish). May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Selección Femenina: Uruguay derrotó 3–0 a Puerto Rico en el Franzini con gran presentación". Fútbol uy (in Spanish). June 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.