Kaleigh Riehl

Summary

Kaleigh Ann Riehl (born October 21, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Utah Royals.

Kaleigh Riehl
Riehl with the San Diego Wave in 2023
Personal information
Full name Kaleigh Ann Riehl[1]
Date of birth (1996-10-21) October 21, 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Utah Royals
Number 18
Youth career
2004–2015 Braddock Road YC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2019 Penn State Nittany Lions 101 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Washington Spirit Reserves
2020 Sky Blue FC 0 (0)
2020–2021Paris FC (loan) 8 (0)
2021 Racing Louisville 21 (0)
2022–2023 San Diego Wave 22 (1)
2024– Utah Royals 0 (0)
International career
2013–2014 United States U18
2014–2016 United States U20
2017–2019 United States U23 8
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Riehl has represented the United States at the U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels.[2] She was called up to the senior team training camp in January 2019.[3] Riehl played for Penn State at the collegiate level and was the 11th pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, going to Sky Blue FC.[4]

Early life edit

Riehl was born on October 21, 1996, in Fairfax Station, Virginia. She played with Braddock Road Youth Club '95 Elite for 11 years, with whom she won several competitions.

College career edit

Riehl played with Penn State University for her entire college career. As a freshman, she started all 27 matches. She was named to the Big 10 all-freshman team and helped lead the team to winning the NCAA Championship. She was redshirted for the 2016 season, during which she started for the U.S. six times at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. As a sophomore, she started all 24 matches and recorded 13 clean sheets. As a junior, she started all 25 matches, recorded 13 clean sheets, and was named Big 10 defender of the year. As a senior, she started all 25 matches. Over all four years, she set the NCAA record for minutes played as an outfield player with 8,847 minutes played.[2]

Club career edit

Sky Blue FC, 2020 edit

On January 16, 2020, Riehl took part in the NWSL College Draft. She was the 11th pick, being chosen by Sky Blue FC.[4] Riehl made her professional debut in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup on July 4, 2020, against the Utah Royals FC.[5]

Racing Louisville, 2021 edit

On November 12, 2020, Riehl was selected by Racing Louisville FC in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.[6]

San Diego Wave FC, 2022–2023 edit

On December 16, 2021, Riehl was selected by San Diego Wave FC in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft.[7]

Utah Royals, 2024– edit

On November 20, 2023, the Utah Royals announced that Riehl had been acquired in a trade from San Diego.[8]

International career edit

Riehl has played for multiple youth national teams throughout her career. In January 2020, she was called up for the senior team training camp.[9]

Honors edit

Penn State Nittany Lions

San Diego Wave

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016 – List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. November 8, 2016. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 30, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Kaleigh Riehl – Women's Soccer". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  3. ^ "Two-Time U-20 World Cup Defender Kaleigh Riehl Added to USWNT ID Camp Roster". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  4. ^ a b intive. "NWSL 2020 College Draft". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "Utah Royals FC 1–0 Sky Blue FC". NWSLSoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  6. ^ Creditor, Avi (November 12, 2020). "Louisville Takes USWNT's Heath, Press to Headline Expansion Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Utah Royals FC Acquires Kaleigh Riehl From San Diego Wave FC". www.rsl.com/utahroyals. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "Kaleigh Riehl added to USWNT roster for ID Camp". SoccerWire. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  10. ^ "San Diego Wave claim 2023 NWSL Shield". CONCACAF. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.

External links edit

  • Kaleigh Riehl at Soccerway