Vanessa Michelle Kara González (born 27 November 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward. Born in the United States, she plays for the Dominican Republic women's national team.[1]

Vanessa Kara
Personal information
Full name Vanessa Michelle Kara González
Date of birth (1996-11-27) 27 November 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Burlington, New Jersey, U.S.
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
PDA Force
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Drexel Dragons 53 (22)
2019 Florida Gators 20 (10)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 TiPS 9 (2)
2021 Racing Louisville 1 (0)
International career
2021– Dominican Republic 4 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:50, 16 April 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 October 2021.

Early life

edit

Born in Burlington, New Jersey to a Dominican mother,[2] Kara began playing soccer at the Bridle Club in her hometown, playing alongside her brothers.[3] She soon joined the PDA Fusion, part of the Players Development Academy.[3] During her club and her high school career at Moorestown Friends School, Kara suffered two ACL tears in both knees.[3] During her senior year of high school, Kara committed to playing for the Drexel Dragons of Drexel University.[3]

During her first season with Drexel Dragons, she recorded a team record 11 goals in 18 matches, and was named the 2015 CAA Rookie of the Year.[4] In her sophomore year, Kara scored 6 goals and contributed 5 assists as she earned All-CAA First Team honors.[4] During her final season with the Dragons, she scored 5 goals.[4] Prior to the 2017 playoffs, Kara tore her ACL again and had to red shirt during what would have been her senior year.[3]

In 2019, Kara left Drexel University, and joined the Florida Gators of the University of Florida.[3] One of her former coaches had recommended Kara to Gators head coach Becky Burleigh.[3] During her only season with the Florida Gators, Kara scored a team leading 10 goals, tied for 5th in the Southeastern Conference.[5]

Club career

edit

On 16 January 2020, Kara was eligible for selection in the NWSL College Draft but was not selected.[6] The day after the draft, Kara received a call from North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley to join the team for preseason.[6] Later that year, Kara joined Kansallinen Liiga club TiPS.[7] She made her debut for the side on 22 August 2020 against Åland United, starting in a 3–0 defeat.[8] Kara then scored her first goal on 5 September against PK-35, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory.[9]

Racing Louisville

edit

On 5 April 2021, after training with them during preseason, Kara returned to the United States and joined National Women's Soccer League club Racing Louisville.[10] She made her professional debut for the club on 15 April 2021 in the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat.[11]

International career

edit

Kara made her senior debut for the Dominican Republic on 22 October 2021, starting in a 3–0 friendly home win over Bolivia. During the match, she scored a brace and assisted the remaining goal.[12]

Career statistics

edit
As of match played 15 April 2021[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
TiPS 2020 Kansallinen Liiga 9 2 0 0 9 2
Racing Louisville 2021 National Women's Soccer League 1 0 2 0 3 0
Career total 10 2 2 0 0 0 12 2

Honours

edit

Individual

  • 2015 CAA Rookie of the Year

References

edit
  1. ^ "Called up for friendlies, Kara to represent Dominican Republic". Racing Louisville FC. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Called up for friendlies, Kara to represent Dominican Republic". Racing Louisville FC. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Marsh, Graham (15 November 2019). "Beating the odds: Kara overcomes injuries, transfer". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Vanessa Kara - Drexel Dragons". Drexel Dragons.
  5. ^ "Vanessa Kara - Florida Gators". Florida Gators.
  6. ^ a b Miceli, John (22 March 2020). "Feature: Two Gator Soccer Players Trying to Go Pro". WRUF. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Six former Gators prepare for NWSL opening day". The Independent Florida Alligator. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  8. ^ "TiPS 0–3 Åland United". Soccerway.
  9. ^ "PK-35 0–1 TiPS". Soccerway.
  10. ^ Gardner, Hayes (5 April 2021). "Racing Louisville FC announces 22-player roster ahead of club's debut". Courier-Journal. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Washington Spirit 1–0 Racing Louisville". Soccerway.
  12. ^ "Vanessa Kara sacó la casta por la SEDOFUTBOL Femenina ante Bolivia" [Vanessa Kara took the breed for the Women's SEDOFUTBOL against Bolivia]. Acento (in Spanish). RécoRD. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  13. ^ Vanessa Kara at Soccerway
edit