Alexandra Riley
Encyclopedia
Alexandra "Ali" Lowe Riley (born 30 October 1987) is an American
-born New Zealand
association football player who is currently a member of the Western New York Flash in the Women's Professional Soccer
league. Riley is a member of the New Zealand women's national football team. She captained the Stanford
soccer team to two NCAA semi-finals and one final.
by FC Gold Pride
. While she plays on her natural right wing-back position for the NZ Women's National Team, she plays professionally as a left wing-back and had three assists in the 2010 run to the WPS championship by FC Gold Pride
. Riley won the WPS Rookie of the Year award.
Riley signed for Western New York Flash for the 2011 season becoming a free agent after FC Gold Pride failed to find financial backers.
In the 2011 season Riley was a finalist for Defender of the year as the Flash swept both the league season title and then won the 2011 WPS Championship.
finals. She was named Player of the game v. Russia. She made her Football Ferns debut in a 0–5 loss to Australia on 6 February 2007, and represented New Zealand at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup finals in China, where they lost to Brazil
0–5, Denmark
(0–2) and China
(0–2).
Riley also played every minute for the New Zealand squad in the 2008 Summer Olympic games where they drew with Japan
(2–2) before losing to Norway
(0–1) and the United States (0–4).
Riley's first international goal was scored in the final of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup as New Zealand qualified for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup with an 11-0 win over Papua New Guinea
.
On 27 June 2011 Riley earned her 50th A-international cap in a 2-1 loss to Japan
in New Zealand's opening group stage match at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. In the final seconds of extra time in the match v. Mexico she assisted on the tying goal that gave the Football Ferns their first point in a World Cup final.
2009 UNIVERSITY SOCCER HONORS
2010 UNIVERSITY SOCCER HONORS
2010 WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER HONORS
Award announcement
The left defender started 23 games for regular season champions FC Gold Pride this season and had three assists. Her solid defensive play helped FC Gold Pride lead the league in team defence with just 19 goals allowed, while her consistently aggressive runs up the left flank and dangerous crosses created opportunities and space for FC Gold Pride’s forwards throughout the season.
2011 WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER HONORS
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
association football player who is currently a member of the Western New York Flash in the Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
league. Riley is a member of the New Zealand women's national football team. She captained the Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
soccer team to two NCAA semi-finals and one final.
Club career
In January 2010 she was selected as the #10 pick in the first round of the 2010 WPS Draft2010 WPS Draft
The 2010 WPS College Draft took place on January 15, 2010. It was the second college draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of college players to the American-based teams.-Format:...
by FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
. While she plays on her natural right wing-back position for the NZ Women's National Team, she plays professionally as a left wing-back and had three assists in the 2010 run to the WPS championship by FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
. Riley won the WPS Rookie of the Year award.
Riley signed for Western New York Flash for the 2011 season becoming a free agent after FC Gold Pride failed to find financial backers.
In the 2011 season Riley was a finalist for Defender of the year as the Flash swept both the league season title and then won the 2011 WPS Championship.
International career
Riley represented New Zealand at the 2006 Women's U-20 World Cup2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship
The 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship was held in Russia from 17 August to 3 September 2006. It was the officially recognized world championship for women's under-20 national football teams...
finals. She was named Player of the game v. Russia. She made her Football Ferns debut in a 0–5 loss to Australia on 6 February 2007, and represented New Zealand at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup finals in China, where they lost to Brazil
Brazil women's national football team
The Brazil women's national football team represents Brazil in international women's association football. Brazil played their first game on July 22, 1986 against the United States....
0–5, Denmark
Denmark women's national football team
The Denmark women's national football team represents Denmark in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Danish Football Association .-World Cup:*1970 : Winner *1971 : Winner...
(0–2) and China
China women's national football team
The China women's national football team represents the People's Republic of China in international women's football.- Records :China had held the record of going for 442 minutes without conceding a World Cup goal, until it was broken by Germany on September 26, 2007, when Germany beat Norway 3-0...
(0–2).
Riley also played every minute for the New Zealand squad in the 2008 Summer Olympic games where they drew with Japan
Japan women's national football team
The Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan , is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association . Japan defeated the U.S...
(2–2) before losing to Norway
Norway women's national football team
The Norway women's national football team represents Norway in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Norway, are former European, World and Olympic champions and thus one of the most successful national teams...
(0–1) and the United States (0–4).
Riley's first international goal was scored in the final of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup as New Zealand qualified for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup with an 11-0 win over Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea women's national football team
The Papua New Guinea women's national football team represents Papua New Guinea in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Papua New Guinea Football Association. It is considered the second-best team in Oceania after New Zealand....
.
On 27 June 2011 Riley earned her 50th A-international cap in a 2-1 loss to Japan
Japan women's national football team
The Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan , is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association . Japan defeated the U.S...
in New Zealand's opening group stage match at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. In the final seconds of extra time in the match v. Mexico she assisted on the tying goal that gave the Football Ferns their first point in a World Cup final.
Honours
NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL TEAM HONOURS- Nike Junior Women's Player of the Year 2006
- Nike National Women's Player of the Year 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Oceania Football Confederation Women's Player of the Year 2009, 2010
2009 UNIVERSITY SOCCER HONORS
- All American (NSCAA, Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer America)
- Scholar All American (NSCAA)
- All Pac10 First team
- All Pac10 Scholar Athlete of the year
2010 UNIVERSITY SOCCER HONORS
- Stanford University, Pat Strathairn Best Competitive Athlete Award
2010 WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER HONORS
- Rookie of the year
Award announcement
The left defender started 23 games for regular season champions FC Gold Pride this season and had three assists. Her solid defensive play helped FC Gold Pride lead the league in team defence with just 19 goals allowed, while her consistently aggressive runs up the left flank and dangerous crosses created opportunities and space for FC Gold Pride’s forwards throughout the season.
- All Pro selection (First XI)
2011 WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER HONORS
- Finalist, Defender of the year
- All Pro selection (First XI)