Sarah McCoy (soccer)

Sarah McCoy
McCoy with the North Carolina Courage in 2023
Personal information
Birth name Sarah Grace Clark[1]
Date of birth (1999-03-26) March 26, 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth Durham, North Carolina
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position Center back
Team information
Current team
 Spokane Zephyr
Number 5
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Purdue Boilermakers 36 (3)
2020–2022 Virginia Cavaliers 61 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023 North Carolina Courage 0 (0)
2023–2024 Canberra United 16 (1)
2024– Spokane Zephyr 30 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 30, 2025

Sarah McCoy (née Clark; born March 26, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for USL Super League club Spokane Zephyr, which she captains. She played college soccer for the Purdue Boilermakers and Virginia Cavaliers. She has previously played for the North Carolina Courage and Canberra United.

Early life

Born in Durham, North Carolina, McCoy grew up in Brighton, Michigan.[2] She played club soccer for the Michigan Hawks, winning two ECNL national championships and five conference titles.[2] She graduated from Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan.[2]

College career

Though recruited as a right back, McCoy shifted to center back in her freshman season with the Purdue Boilermakers in 2017, starting 18 games and earning Big Ten Conference all-freshman honors.[2][3] Head coach Drew Roff moved McCoy to central defensive midfielder in her sophomore season in 2018. She started all 18 games, led the team with 6 assists as the primary corner kick taker, and scored 3 penalties.[2][3] She was named team captain for her junior season but was forced to redshirt the season due to injury.[4]

McCoy then transferred to the Virginia Cavaliers in 2020.[5] Virginia reached the NCAA tournament semifinals in her debut season, then won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title in 2021. She made 61 appearances, primarily as a substitute, in three seasons with the Cavaliers.[4]

Club career

North Carolina Courage

After going undrafted in the 2023 NWSL Draft, McCoy joined the North Carolina Courage as a trialist in the 2023 preseason.[6] In June, she signed her first professional contract with the Courage as a national team replacement player during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[7] She made her professional debut in a NWSL Challenge Cup game against the Orlando Pride on July 29, replacing Brianna Pinto in the 79th minute and assisting former college teammate Haley Hopkins's second goal in a 5–0 victory.[8] She made one other appearance in the competition as part of the Courage's successful title defense.[9] After being released in August,[10] she re-signed with the Courage in September as an injury replacement player for Riley Jackson,[11] staying the rest of the season.[12]

Canberra United

In December 2023, McCoy signed with Australian A-League Women club Canberra United.[13] She debuted for the club at halftime in a 2–0 loss to the Melbourne Victory on December 16.[14] On January 6, 2024, she scored her first professional goal with a long-range strike to draw 3–3 with the Newcastle Jets.[15] She played in 16 games, starting 15, during the 2023–24 season.[14]

Spokane Zephyr FC

In May 2024, McCoy returned to the United States and joined the Spokane Zephyr before the USL Super League's inaugural 2024–25 season.[16] On August 27, she appeared in the starting lineup of the club's inaugural game, a 1–1 draw with Fort Lauderdale United.[17] She recorded her first professional assist on September 22, sending a free kick to Haley Thomas's diving header for the lone goal against DC Power FC in Zephyr's first win.[18] After having just two wins at the winter break, Spokane found their groove in the spring,[19] with McCoy being named in the Team of the Month in February and May 2025,[20] and narrowly missed a playoff spot on tiebreakers.[19] She was named in the All-League Second Team at the end of the season, having played every minute of the campaign and led the league in passes.[21]

McCoy was named Zephyr's captain before the 2025–26 season.[22] She found success in the early part of Spokane's campaign, leading the USL Super League in clearances and being named to the USLS September Team of the Month.[23]

Personal life

McCoy is the daughter of Bill and Lori Clark and has three older siblings.[2] Both her parents went to Purdue.[2] Her brother, Will, played college soccer at UNC Wilmington, and her uncle Mike Clark played professionally for the Columbus Crew.[4]

Career statistics

As of match played March 30, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
North Carolina Courage 2023 NWSL 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
Canberra United FC 2023–24 A-League 16 1 — — 16 1
Career total 16 1 2 0 0 0 18 1

Honors

Virginia Cavaliers

North Carolina Courage

Individual

Notes

  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs, A-League Women Finals series

References

  1. ^ "One Hundred and Ninety Third Final Exercises" (PDF). University of Virginia. p. 36. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Sarah Clark – Soccer". Purdue University Athletics. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Baird, Nathan (September 18, 2018). "Purdue soccer defender Sarah Clark coming up big from the corner". Journal & Courier. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Sarah Clark". Virginia Cavaliers. August 7, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "Virginia Women's Soccer Announces 2020–21 Newcomers". Virginia Cavaliers. May 4, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Courage announce 2023 preseason roster". North Carolina Courage. February 3, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  7. ^ "Courage sign three to National Team replacement contracts". North Carolina Courage. June 27, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  8. ^ "Recap: Courage trounce Orlando Saturday". North Carolina Courage. July 30, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  9. ^ "Sarah Clark 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  10. ^ "Courage release three National Team Replacement Players". North Carolina Courage. August 23, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  11. ^ "Jackson placed on 45-day injured reserve". North Carolina Courage. September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  12. ^ "Courage November Roster Update". North Carolina Courage. November 21, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  13. ^ "US Defender Clark Adds to United Squad". Canberra United FC. December 14, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Sarah Clark 2023-2024 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  15. ^ "Jets and United Share Six Goals". Canberra United FC. January 6, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  16. ^ USL Spokane (May 28, 2024). "Defender Sarah Clark Joins Spokane Zephyr FC, Bringing Experience to the Backline". Spokane Zephyr FC. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  17. ^ "Spokane Zephyr FC 1–1 Fort Lauderdale United FC". USL Super League. Retrieved August 29, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Haley Thomas scores diving header to clinch Spokane Zephyr's first win, 1-0 over DC Power". The Spokesman-Review. September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  19. ^ a b Allison, John (May 31, 2025). "Spokane Zephyr's tie with Fort Lauderdale ends inaugural season in heartbreak". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "USL Super League Team of the Month – May". USL Super League. June 4, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  21. ^ a b "USL Super League announces 2024/25 All-League Teams". USL Super League. June 10, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  22. ^ Allison, John (August 21, 2025). "Spokane Zephyr hope to start new season strong with interim coach and plenty of new players". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  23. ^ "Gainbridge Super League Team of the Month - September". USL Super League. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Clark_(soccer)