Ella Masar
Encyclopedia
Ella Masar is an American
soccer forward currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain of France
's Division 1 Féminine and is a current member of the United States women's national soccer team
.
, where she holds the school record for most goals in a season (40) and career (92).
She enrolled at the University of Illinois in 2004. While attending, she was a student-athlete and played for Illinois Fighting Illini
's women's soccer team. She played for the university for four years. In 2006, she was named Big Ten
Offensive Player of the Year and NSCAA
Second Team All-American. During Masar's senior year, she was named All-Big Ten First Team and Lowe's All-American First Team. Over the course of the 2007 season, Masar tallied 12 goals and 3 assists. For her career, Masar compiled a total of 20 assists - the second most in the program's history. She also added 27 goals, good for fourth most.
in 2004 with Windy City Bluez
. She appeared in just 1 game for them, but played the full 90 minutes.
2005 saw Masar switch to Chicago Gaels, for whom she appeared in 7 games for (650 minutes). She scored 9 goals and added an assist. She stayed with the team the following season and played in 9 more games (791 minutes). In 2006, she scored 1 goal and 1 assist.
Vancouver Whitecaps
marked the next stop for Masar, who played for the Canadian
team in 2007. She appeared alongside Cori Alexander
, Tiffeny Milbrett, Jill Oakes
, and McCall Zerboni
. She played in 8 games (632 minutes) and scored 1 goal and assisted on 5 others.
Masar moved to Washington Freedom
in 2008, where she appeared in 7 games (321 minutes) and scored 3 goals, while helping the Freedom to a first place finish in the Northeast Division.
in the form of Women's Professional Soccer
, Masar declared herself eligible for the WPS. She was drafted in the second round (9th overall) to Chicago Red Stars
in the 2008 WPS General Draft
on 6 October 2008. In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
, Masar appeared in 16 games (5 starts, 655 minutes) and recorded 2 assist. However, her season was hampered by a hip injury sustained on 7 June 2009 at FC Gold Pride
which resulted in 4 torn muscles.
It was announced on 28 September 2009 that Masar's contract option had been picked up by Chicago, who will hold her playing rights for the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season
.
In 2008, the U-21 team switched to being a U-23 team. For the newly re-branded U-23 Women's National Team, Masar appeared in 8 games and scored 3 goals, her last appearance coming in 2009 before she became ineligible due to age.
Masar has since stepped up to the Senior National Team
. Her debut with the team came on 29 October 2009 against Germany
, where she was a 73rd minute substitute for Amy Rodriguez
. Masar and Kacey White
were late additions to the squad due to the retirement of Angela Hucles
and an injury to Megan Rapinoe
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer forward currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Division 1 Féminine and is a current member of the United States women's national soccer team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
.
Youth and university
Masar played at Urbana High SchoolUrbana High School (Illinois)
-History:Urbana High School's current building was built in 1914. It was designed by architect Joseph Royer who also designed many other area buildings such as the Urbana Free Library and the Champaign County Court House...
, where she holds the school record for most goals in a season (40) and career (92).
She enrolled at the University of Illinois in 2004. While attending, she was a student-athlete and played for Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
's women's soccer team. She played for the university for four years. In 2006, she was named Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Offensive Player of the Year and NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...
Second Team All-American. During Masar's senior year, she was named All-Big Ten First Team and Lowe's All-American First Team. Over the course of the 2007 season, Masar tallied 12 goals and 3 assists. For her career, Masar compiled a total of 20 assists - the second most in the program's history. She also added 27 goals, good for fourth most.
W-League
Masar started play in the W-LeagueW-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
in 2004 with Windy City Bluez
Windy City Bluez
The Windy City Bluez were a W-League club based in Palos Hills, Illinois, USA. The team folded after the 2004 season.-Year-by-year:...
. She appeared in just 1 game for them, but played the full 90 minutes.
2005 saw Masar switch to Chicago Gaels, for whom she appeared in 7 games for (650 minutes). She scored 9 goals and added an assist. She stayed with the team the following season and played in 9 more games (791 minutes). In 2006, she scored 1 goal and 1 assist.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps Women
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC women are a Canadian women's soccer team founded in 2001 and a part of the greater Vancouver Whitecaps FC club. Originally called the Vancouver Breakers in 2001-02, the team is a member of the W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada...
marked the next stop for Masar, who played for the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
team in 2007. She appeared alongside Cori Alexander
Cori Alexander
Corinne Renae Alexander is an American soccer goalkeeper and artistic photographer.- University career :...
, Tiffeny Milbrett, Jill Oakes
Jill Oakes
Jill Pauline Oakes is an American soccer defender currently playing for Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer....
, and McCall Zerboni
McCall Zerboni
McCall RaNae Zerboni is an American soccer midfielder who plays for the Western New York Flash in the Women's Professional Soccer league. Zebroni was chosen as the 47th pick overall in the 2009 WPS Draft by the Los Angeles Sol...
. She played in 8 games (632 minutes) and scored 1 goal and assisted on 5 others.
Masar moved to Washington Freedom
Washington Freedom
The Washington Freedom was an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Germantown, Maryland that participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The Freedom was originally founded in 2001 as a member of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. Since 2004, the...
in 2008, where she appeared in 7 games (321 minutes) and scored 3 goals, while helping the Freedom to a first place finish in the Northeast Division.
Women's Professional Soccer
With the introduction of top-flight women's soccer back to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the form of 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...
, Masar declared herself eligible for the WPS. She was drafted in the second round (9th overall) to Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
in the 2008 WPS General Draft
2008 WPS General Draft
The 2008 WPS General Draft took place on October 6, 2008. It was the first general draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of international and domestic players to the American-based teams.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:...
on 6 October 2008. In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season served as the inaugural season for WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
, Masar appeared in 16 games (5 starts, 655 minutes) and recorded 2 assist. However, her season was hampered by a hip injury sustained on 7 June 2009 at 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...
which resulted in 4 torn muscles.
It was announced on 28 September 2009 that Masar's contract option had been picked up by Chicago, who will hold her playing rights for the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season
2010 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season was the second season for the WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
.
National team
Masar's international career began in 2007 with the U-21 Women's National Team. She appeared in 12 games, scoring 2 and adding an assist.In 2008, the U-21 team switched to being a U-23 team. For the newly re-branded U-23 Women's National Team, Masar appeared in 8 games and scored 3 goals, her last appearance coming in 2009 before she became ineligible due to age.
Masar has since stepped up to the Senior National Team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
. Her debut with the team came on 29 October 2009 against Germany
Germany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
, where she was a 73rd minute substitute for Amy Rodriguez
Amy Rodriguez
Amy Joy Rodriguez is an American soccer forward currently playing for Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team....
. Masar and Kacey White
Kacey White
Kacey Dell White is an American soccer midfielder currently playing for the Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team.-External links:* * * *...
were late additions to the squad due to the retirement of Angela Hucles
Angela Hucles
Angela Khalia Hucles is a former American soccer midfielder and member of the United States women's national soccer team.-Early life:...
and an injury to Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe
Megan Anna Rapinoe is an American soccer midfielder who is currently a free agent in the Women's Professional Soccer League and a member of the United States women's national soccer team...
.