Kristen Graczyk
Encyclopedia
Kristen Marie Graczyk is an American
soccer forward and defender
currently playing for FC Gold Pride
of Women's Professional Soccer
. Her brother, Mike Graczyk, is a goalkeeper and plays for San Jose Earthquakes
in Major League Soccer
.
Graczyk played for the Connecticut Huskies
from 2001 to 2004 and she played a big part in the Huskies run to the 2003 National Championship game. Graczyk scored the match winning goal in overtime against Central Connecticut to help the Huskies advance in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Gracyzk scored both goals for the Huskies in their 2-0 College Cup victory over Florida State in 2003 to advance to the National Championship game. Her first goal was a header to the near post off of a cross from nine yards. Her second goal sealed the game for the Huskies. She had a ball played to her in front of the box that she drilled into the back of the net. Graczyk also scored both goals for the Huskies in their win over Notre Dame in the 2004 BIG EAST Tournament Championship Game. Graczyk found the ball just outside the box and nailed a left footed shot from about 20 yards out to tie the game for the Huskies with about 18 minutes left in the second half. Graczyk headed in a Karyn Riviere cross at 86:48 to give the Huskies a 2-1 victory to earn their Second BIG EAST Tournament Championship and give the Huskies their automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Gracyzk was the 2003 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and was an All-American in 2003 & 2004. She is UConn's third leading scorer, finishing her career with 57 Goals and 32 Assists for 146 career points. Her 26 career points (10 Goals and 6 Assists) in the NCAA Tournament is a school record.
Graczyk got her start with Chicago Cobras
of the W-League
. In her first season with the club, she appeared in 10 games, netting 6 goals. In her second, and final season with the club, she appeared in 13 games, scoring 16 goals before moving on to Hampton Roads Piranhas
for the 2005 season. The next season brought another change in teams, this time signing with SoccerPlus Connecticut
of Women's Premier Soccer League
.
She was invited to train with FC Gold Pride
of Women's Professional Soccer
in 2009. She made the final roster and has played an integral role with the club in its first year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer forward and defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
currently playing for 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...
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...
. Her brother, Mike Graczyk, is a goalkeeper and plays for San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Graczyk played for the Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
from 2001 to 2004 and she played a big part in the Huskies run to the 2003 National Championship game. Graczyk scored the match winning goal in overtime against Central Connecticut to help the Huskies advance in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Gracyzk scored both goals for the Huskies in their 2-0 College Cup victory over Florida State in 2003 to advance to the National Championship game. Her first goal was a header to the near post off of a cross from nine yards. Her second goal sealed the game for the Huskies. She had a ball played to her in front of the box that she drilled into the back of the net. Graczyk also scored both goals for the Huskies in their win over Notre Dame in the 2004 BIG EAST Tournament Championship Game. Graczyk found the ball just outside the box and nailed a left footed shot from about 20 yards out to tie the game for the Huskies with about 18 minutes left in the second half. Graczyk headed in a Karyn Riviere cross at 86:48 to give the Huskies a 2-1 victory to earn their Second BIG EAST Tournament Championship and give the Huskies their automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Gracyzk was the 2003 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and was an All-American in 2003 & 2004. She is UConn's third leading scorer, finishing her career with 57 Goals and 32 Assists for 146 career points. Her 26 career points (10 Goals and 6 Assists) in the NCAA Tournament is a school record.
Graczyk got her start with Chicago Cobras
Chicago Cobras
The Chicago Cobras, are a former W-League team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Cobras left the league after the completion of the 2004 season.-Year-by-year:-Honors:* USL W-League Midwest Division Chamoions 2004...
of the W-League
W-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 her first season with the club, she appeared in 10 games, netting 6 goals. In her second, and final season with the club, she appeared in 13 games, scoring 16 goals before moving on to Hampton Roads Piranhas
Hampton Roads Piranhas
Hampton Roads Piranhas is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 1995. 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...
for the 2005 season. The next season brought another change in teams, this time signing with SoccerPlus Connecticut
SoccerPlus Connecticut
SoccerPlus Connecticut is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2006. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the North Division of the East Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
of Women's Premier Soccer League
Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
.
She was invited to train with 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...
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...
in 2009. She made the final roster and has played an integral role with the club in its first year.