Julia Ashley

Julia Elizabeth Ashley (born November 11, 1996) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender. She previously played for Adelaide United, Linköpings FC, Racing Louisville FC, and Houston Dash as well as collegiately for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Julia Ashley
Personal information
Full name Julia Elizabeth Ashley[1]
Date of birth (1996-11-11) November 11, 1996
Place of birth Verona, New Jersey, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Match Fit Colchesters
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 North Carolina Tar Heels 94 (8)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Linköpings FC 1 (0)
2019–2020 Adelaide United 8 (0)
2020 OL Reign 0 (0)
2021 Racing Louisville 15 (0)
2022 Houston Dash 5 (0)
International career‡
2016 United States U20
2018 United States U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 5, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of May 22, 2019

Early life

Ashley was born in Verona, New Jersey, to Suzanne and Martin Ashley, and has two sisters.[1][2] She attended Verona High School, where she only played one year of soccer due to commitments with her club team, Match Fit Colchesters. She also competed in track and field during high school, setting school records in 400 meters, 800 meters, and indoor and outdoor mile. In the mile, she recorded the third-fastest time nationally as a freshman.[2]

University of North Carolina

In Ashley's freshman season she started all 21 games at right back and was named to the 2015 Freshman All-ACC Team. In her sophomore year, she played in 24 games and ranked second on the team in minutes played. In her junior year, Ashley was one of the nation's most consistent defensive performers, she started all 22 games at right back and was second-team All-ACC and was named to the 2017 All-ACC Academic Women's Soccer Team. In her senior season, Ashley started all 25 games for the Tar Heels as they advanced all the way to the College Cup Final, where they were defeated 1–0 by Florida State.[2]

Club career

Linköpings

On January 20, 2019, Ashley signed a five-month contract with Linköpings FC in the Damallsvenskan in Sweden.[3] She made her professional debut on February 16, starting in a Svenska Cupen game against Växjö. She made her league debut against the same opposition on April 17. On May 22, 2019, she was released by the team having struggled for playing time with injury and competition within the squad.[4]

Adelaide United

In November 2019, Ashley signed a deal with Australian club Adelaide United.[5] She made her debut for the team on November 14, starting in the 2019–20 season opener against Western Sydney Wanderers.[6]

OL Reign

Ashley was originally selected by Sky Blue FC with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft, but she never signed for the club.[7][3] She expressed a hope that Sky Blue would either trade her NWSL rights to another team or release her.[8] On January 17, 2020, Sky Blue traded her NWSL rights to Reign FC.[9] Ashley subsequently signed a three-year contract with Reign FC on March 4, 2020.[10]

Racing Louisville

On November 12, 2020, Ashley was chosen by Racing Louisville FC in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.

Houston Dash

She was traded to Houston Dash in December 2021.[11]

International career

Ashley was part of the United States U–20 player pool and was called up to a U–20 camp in January 2016.[12] In 2018 she was named to the United States U–23 roster for the 2018 Thorns Spring Invitational.[13] She received another U–23 call-up in March 2019 for the La Manga Tournament in Spain.[14]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played November 14, 2019.[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club League Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental[lower-alpha 2] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Linköpings Damallsvenskan 2019 10200030
Adelaide United W-League 2019–20 10––10
Career total 20200040
  1. Includes the Svenska Cupen
  2. Includes the UEFA Women's Champions League

References
  1. "Births: Out of Town". Community News. Portland Press Herald. Vol. 135, no. 159. South Portland, Maine. December 25, 1996. p. 7B. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  2. "Julia Ashley". Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  3. "Sweden-bound Julia Ashley discusses decision not to join Sky Blue FC". January 20, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  4. "Julia Ashley lämnar LFC". Linköpings Fotboll Club (in Swedish). May 22, 2019.
  5. "Reds announce Ashley for upcoming Westfield W-League campaign". Adelaide United. November 8, 2019.
  6. "Reds suffer heartbreaking loss to Wanderers". Adelaide United. November 14, 2019.
  7. "Sky Blue FC's 2019 draft overshadowed by reluctant first-round picks". January 10, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  8. "NJ soccer star who bailed from Phil Murphy's team thrives in Sweden". March 9, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  9. "REIGN FC ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO JULIA ASHLEY IN TRADE WITH SKY BLUE FC". Reign FC. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  10. "HUERTA, BROOKS, AND ASHLEY SIGN THROUGH 2020 SEASON". Reign FC. March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  11. "Houston Dash acquire defender Julia Ashley from Racing Louisville FC | Houston Dynamo".
  12. "U-20 WNT KICKS OFF WORLD CUP YEAR AT U.S. SOCCER NTC". January 1, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  13. "SNOW NAMES 24-PLAYER USA ROSTER FOR 2018 THORNS SPRING INVITATIONAL". March 18, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  14. "U-23 WNT HEADS TO SPAIN FOR THREE MATCHES AT LA MANGA TOURNAMENT". March 30, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  15. "Julia Ashley player profile". Soccerway. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
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