Kelly Schmedes
Encyclopedia
Kelly Schmedes is an American
soccer forward who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer
, and was a member of the United States women's national soccer team
.
in Odessa
, Texas
. She was recruited by, and eventually enrolled in, the University of Texas at Austin
. While there, Schmedes played for the Texas Longhorns women's soccer team. She was a four-time All-Big 12
First Team selection, in addition to being a three-time Hermann Trophy
nominee and two-time NSCAA All-American. At the conclusion of her career with Texas, Schmedes was the all-time leader in points (129), assists (41), game-winning goals (13) and games started (84) for the university.
side Charlotte Lady Eagles
in 2005. She appeared in 8 games (679 minutes) and scored 11 goals with an assist.
Her stay in the United States
was short lived as Schmedes moved abroad to play for Sweden
's KIF Örebro DFF
in 2006.
2007 saw Schmedes return to Charlotte Lady Eagles
, where she appeared in a further 12 games (903 minutes), and tallied 7 goals and 6 assists. 2008 saw more of the same with Schmedes playing in 13 games (1149 minutes). She scored 14 goals with 6 assists. Throughout her three years with the club, Schmedes ranks 3rd in goals and 4th in assists.
With the return of top-flight women's soccer in the United States
in Women's Professional Soccer
, teams were keen to obtain Schmedes' playing rights. She was selected in the 6th round of the 2009 WPS Draft
by Boston Breakers. In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
, she appeared in 17 games (10 starts, 1033 total minutes) and scored 1 goal and 1 assist.
Following the conclusion of the 2009 season, Schmedes was drafted by expansion club Philadelphia Independence in the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft
but did not make the final roster.
. As Kelly Wilson, she scored nine goals in five games at the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
in Canada
, becoming the second-highest scoring player in the tournament and winning the Bronze Ball and Silver Shoe awards.
Schmedes has only appeared twice for the United States national team
, at the 2002 and 2005 Algarve Cup
s, scoring her only international goal against England
in 2002.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer forward who last played for Boston Breakers 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...
, and was a 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...
.
Early life and university
Schmedes attended Permian High SchoolPermian High School
Permian High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.-History:...
in Odessa
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. She was recruited by, and eventually enrolled in, the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. While there, Schmedes played for the Texas Longhorns women's soccer team. She was a four-time All-Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
First Team selection, in addition to being a three-time Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
nominee and two-time NSCAA All-American. At the conclusion of her career with Texas, Schmedes was the all-time leader in points (129), assists (41), game-winning goals (13) and games started (84) for the university.
Professional club
After graduating from Texas, Schmedes played for 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....
side Charlotte Lady Eagles
Charlotte Lady Eagles
Charlotte Lady Eagles is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2003. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
in 2005. She appeared in 8 games (679 minutes) and scored 11 goals with an assist.
Her stay in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was short lived as Schmedes moved abroad to play for Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's KIF Örebro DFF
KIF Örebro DFF
KIF Örebro DFF is a football club from Örebro, Sweden. They play in the highest level of women's soccer leagues in Sweden, the Damallsvenskan...
in 2006.
2007 saw Schmedes return to Charlotte Lady Eagles
Charlotte Lady Eagles
Charlotte Lady Eagles is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2003. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
, where she appeared in a further 12 games (903 minutes), and tallied 7 goals and 6 assists. 2008 saw more of the same with Schmedes playing in 13 games (1149 minutes). She scored 14 goals with 6 assists. Throughout her three years with the club, Schmedes ranks 3rd in goals and 4th in assists.
With the return of top-flight women's soccer in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 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...
, teams were keen to obtain Schmedes' playing rights. She was selected in the 6th round of the 2009 WPS Draft
2009 WPS Draft
The 2009 WPS College Draft took place on January 16, 2009. It was the first college draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of college players to the American-based teams.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:...
by Boston Breakers. 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...
, she appeared in 17 games (10 starts, 1033 total minutes) and scored 1 goal and 1 assist.
Following the conclusion of the 2009 season, Schmedes was drafted by expansion club Philadelphia Independence in the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft
2009 WPS Expansion Draft
The 2009 WPS Expansion Draft was a special draft for the Women's Professional Soccer teams Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence taking place on September 15, 2009. Each expansion team made 9 selections from the existing seven WPS teams.-Format:...
but did not make the final roster.
International
Schmedes is the all-time leader in international goals scored (31) for the United States U-20 women's national soccer teamUnited States U-20 women's national soccer team
The United States U-20 women's national soccer team is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer. Its primary role is the development of players in preparation for the full Women's National Team. The team's most recent major tournament was the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World...
. As Kelly Wilson, she scored nine goals in five games at the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
The 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship was held from August 17 to September 1. It was the first sanctioned youth tournament for women put together by FIFA. The tournament was hosted by Canada. FIFA granted the tournament to Canada in March 2001. Three cities hosted the tournament,...
in Canada
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...
, becoming the second-highest scoring player in the tournament and winning the Bronze Ball and Silver Shoe awards.
Schmedes has only appeared twice for the United States 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...
, at the 2002 and 2005 Algarve Cup
Algarve Cup
The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's football . Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football...
s, scoring her only international goal against England
England women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
in 2002.