Kaleigh Kurtz

Kaleigh Nicole Kurtz (born September 9, 1994) is an American soccer defender who plays for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League and Canberra United in the Australian W-League.

Kaleigh Kurtz
Kurtz with the North Carolina Courage in 2023
Personal information
Full name Kaleigh Nicole Kurtz[1]
Date of birth (1994-09-09) September 9, 1994
Place of birth Greer, South Carolina, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 North Carolina Courage
Number 3
Youth career
2004-2012 Carolina Elite Soccer Academy
2009–2012 Riverside High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 Richmond Spiders 18 (0)
2014–2016 South Carolina Gamecocks 69 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Östersunds DFF 12 (0)
2018– North Carolina Courage 57 (3)
2019–2020 → Canberra United (loan) 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:30, 24 September 2022 (UTC)

Early life

Kurtz grew up in Greer, South Carolina. She started playing soccer at the age of four in the local YMCA league, switching to the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy(CESA) when she was 9. She was a top swimmer in her division growing up, competing alongside her sister for Eastside Aquatic Club. Her family's passion towards fitness and running lead her to racing 5ks. She competed in multiple races, coming in first place for overall females 3 times. In soccer she has almost always played the position of defender, specifically centre back. She attended high school at Riverside High school, where she was a three-year All-State winner. Going into her junior year of high school, Kurtz broke her femur which ultimately affected her college recruiting prospects.[2]

College career

For her freshman year of university Kurtz attended the University of Richmond during the 2013–2014 academic year.[3] After a season in which she started 18 games, she transferred to the University of South Carolina.[1] Kurtz went on to make 69 appearances for the Gamecocks. Her senior year she was named a First Team NSCAA All-American and First Team Scholar All-American, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and a MAC Herman Trophy Semifinalist.

Club career

Östersunds Dff

Following college, Kurtz played for Östersunds Dff in the Swedish Elitettan, fulfilling her desire to play overseas. She made 12 appearances and captained the side.[4][5]

North Carolina Courage
Kurtz playing in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup final

Kurtz was a non-roster invitee during the 2018 Carolina preseason. She signed with the Courage in March 2018.[6][7] She debuted on April 18, 2018, starting at center back against the OL Reign. She made 6 appearances in the 2018 regular season, as well as 2 in the 2018 Women's International Champions Cup. Kurtz' option for 2019 was picked up in October 2018.[8]

Kurtz played every minute of the regular season in 2022.[9] She signed a three-year contract with the Courage in November 2022.[9] She continued her "iron woman" streak through the 2023 season.[10]

Canberra United

Kurtz spent the NWSL off season of 2019–2020 in the Australian W-League playing in the capital for Canberra United, on loan from the North Carolina Courage. She played every minute in the 12-game season for Canberra. During round 6, Kurtz broke her nose in the run of play having to come off shortly to get fully bandaged in order to stop the bleeding, and then competing in the final minutes of the game. She was later named to the round 6 Team of the Week. She tallied one assist during her time in Australia and led the league in clearances with a total of 69 clearances during the regular season. Kurtz capped off her time in Canberra by receiving the prestigious award, 2019/2020 Canberra United Player of the Year.

Honors

South Carolina Gamecocks

  • 2016 SEC Defender of the Year
  • 2016 First Team NSCAA All-American
  • 2016 First Team NSCAA Scholar All-American

North Carolina Courage

Canberra United

  • 2019/2020 Canberra United Player of the Year

Career statistics

As of April 20, 2019

League Club Season League Playoffs Total
Apps AssistsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
NCAA University of Richmond Spiders 2013 18 1 0 0 0 18 0
South Carolina Gamecocks 2014 19 0 0 6 0 25 0
2015 19 1 1 1 0 20 1
2016 19 5 1 6 0 25 1
total 75 7 2 13 0 88 2
NWSL North Carolina Courage 2018 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019 0 0 0 0 0 0
total 6 0 0 0 0 6 0
Elitettan Östersunds DFF 2017 12 0 0 0 0 12 0
total 12 0 0 0 0 12 0
Career total 93 7 2 13 0 106 2

References
  1. "2016 Women's Soccer Roster Kaleigh Kurtz". June 22, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  2. "Inverted Triangle: Kaleigh Kurtz of NC Courage". August 16, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  3. "2013 Women's Soccer Kaleigh Kurtz". Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  4. "Kaleigh Kurtz soccerway". Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  5. "Delad post melon off ochs vaster bk30 pa jamtkraft arena trots manger med chanser". Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  6. "North Carolina Courage Completes Roster with signings of Crouse, Kurtz". Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  7. "Greenville native signs with pro women's soccer team North Carolina Courage". April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  8. "NC Courage Aims to bring back core of 2018 NWSL Championship Team". Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  9. "Courage extend defender Kaleigh Kurtz through 2025". North Carolina Courage. November 28, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  10. NC Courage [@TheNCCourage] (October 17, 2023). "Back-to-back Iron Woman seasons for @KaleighKurtz" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

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