Samantha Leshnak Murphy (née Leshnak; born April 21, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Carolina Ascent in the USL Super League.

College career

As a sophomore in 2016, Murphy served as the backup goalkeeper, appearing in just four games.

In her junior year, Murphy became the only scholarship goalkeeper on the roster, starting all 22 games.

During her senior season, Murphy was UNC’s starting goalkeeper and set a program record with a 1,119-minute scoreless streak. She finished with a 14-1-1 record with six solo shutouts. In the NCAA quarterfinals against UCLA, she made crucial penalty shootout saves, becoming just the third Tar Heel goalkeeper in history to win a shootout.

Club career

In April 2019, Murphy signed as a goalkeeper replacement with North Carolina Courage.[3]

Murphy received national attention at a match against the Portland Thorns FC in June 2020. At this match, Murphy chose not to kneel during the national anthem which drew praise and criticism on social media.[4][5]

Murphy joined Piteå IF on January 13, 2023, signed by the club to replace departing goalkeeper Mandy Haught.[6]

On February 14, 2025 it was announced she had signed with Carolina Ascent[7]

Personal life

She attended Mount Notre Dame High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In June 2019, she married her husband, Kyle Murphy.[8]

Honors

North Carolina Courage

References

  1. ^ "Samantha Leshnak Murphy" (in Icelandic). Football Association of Iceland. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Samantha Leshnak - Women's Soccer". University of North Carolina Athletics.
  3. ^ Communications, NC Courage (April 12, 2019). "Sam Leshnak Joins NC Courage as Goalkeeper Replacement". North Carolina Courage. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  4. ^ Gaydos, Ryan (June 29, 2020). "NWSL goalkeeper gets some praise for standing during national anthem". Fox News. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  5. ^ McCrabb, Rick (July 1, 2020). "Butler County native gains national attention for standing as teammates kneel for national anthem". Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "Piteås nya målvakt har landat – tränade med laget direkt" [Piteå's new goalkeeper has landed - trained with the team immediately]. Piteå-Tidningen (in Swedish). January 13, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "UNC Tar Heel and ACC Champion Goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak Murphy Signs with Carolina Ascent FC".
  8. ^ "Instagram".


Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Leshnak
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