Samantha Leshnak Murphy

Samantha Leshnak Murphy (née Leshnak; born April 21, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Piteå IF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan.

Samantha Murphy
Personal information
Full name Samantha Leshnak Murphy[1]
Birth name Samantha Leshnak
Date of birth (1997-04-21) April 21, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Liberty Township, Ohio, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Piteå IF
Number 13
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 North Carolina Tar Heels 54 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 North Carolina Courage 2 (0)
2022 Keflavík 18 (0)
2023– Piteå IF 23 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 27, 2024

Career

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In April 2019, she signed as a goalkeeper replacement with North Carolina Courage.[3]

Murphy received national attention at a match against the Portland Thorns FC in June 2020. At this match, Murphy chose not to kneel during the national anthem which drew praise and criticism on social media.[4][5]

Murphy joined Piteå IF on January 13, 2023, signed by the club to replace departing goalkeeper Mandy Haught.[6]

Personal life

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She attended Mount Notre Dame High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In June 2019, she married her husband, Kyle Murphy.[7]

Honors

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North Carolina Courage

References

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  1. ^ "Samantha Leshnak Murphy" (in Icelandic). Football Association of Iceland. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Samantha Leshnak - Women's Soccer". University of North Carolina Athletics.
  3. ^ Communications, NC Courage (April 12, 2019). "Sam Leshnak Joins NC Courage as Goalkeeper Replacement". North Carolina Courage.
  4. ^ Gaydos, Ryan (June 29, 2020). "NWSL goalkeeper gets some praise for standing during national anthem". Fox News. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  5. ^ McCrabb, Rick (July 1, 2020). "Butler County native gains national attention for standing as teammates kneel for national anthem". Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "Piteås nya målvakt har landat – tränade med laget direkt" [Piteå's new goalkeeper has landed - trained with the team immediately]. Piteå-Tidningen (in Swedish). January 13, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Instagram".
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