Shannon McDonnell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Shannon Marie McDonnell daughter of Ian and Jean McDonnell, is an Irish American
soccer midfielder. She is a Republic of Ireland women's national football team
player. On the club level she represents WPSL
outfit Chicago Red Stars
, having previously played in the W-League
with Windy City Bluez
and Chicago Gaels.
then spent four years at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, playing varsity soccer as well as studying speech and hearing sciences.
in the 2004 W-League
season. She also featured for Chicago Gaels in 2006.
In July 2009 McDonnell and sister Mary Therese
played for the Irish national team against Mary Therese's club side Chicago Red Stars
in an exhibition game at the Sports Complex at Benedictine University
.
Shannon signed for the Red Stars herself in June 2011, after the club left the WPS
and reconstituted itself at the lower level of the WPSL
. She was also hired as the club's camps director.
during a summer 2009 training camp in Indiana
. Shannon and younger sister Mary Therese McDonnell then featured in Ireland's failed qualifying campaign for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Their eligibility for the Irish team derived from their grandfather, who was from Foxford
.
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
soccer midfielder. She is a Republic of Ireland women's national football team
Republic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
player. On the club level she represents WPSL
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....
outfit 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...
, having previously played in 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....
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:...
and Chicago Gaels.
College career
McDonnell attended Carl Sandburg High SchoolCarl Sandburg High School
Carl Sandburg High School, Sandburg, or CSHS, is a public four-year high school located at the intersection of La Grange Road and 131st Street in Orland Park, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Consolidated High School District 230, which also...
then spent four years at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, playing varsity soccer as well as studying speech and hearing sciences.
Club career
While at college McDonnell played for Windy City BluezWindy 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:...
in the 2004 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....
season. She also featured for Chicago Gaels in 2006.
In July 2009 McDonnell and sister Mary Therese
Mary Therese McDonnell
Mary Therese McDonnell is an Irish American soccer defender. She is a Republic of Ireland women's national football team player. On the club level she has been unattached since being released from St...
played for the Irish national team against Mary Therese's club side 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 an exhibition game at the Sports Complex at Benedictine University
Sports Complex at Benedictine University
Sports Complex at Benedictine University is a multi-purpose stadium in Lisle, Illinois, just outside Chicago. It was built in 2004 and holds 3,000 people. Benedictine University host their home games at this stadium, and the stadium was home to Major League Lacrosse's Chicago Machine in their...
.
Shannon signed for the Red Stars herself in June 2011, after the club left the WPS
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 reconstituted itself at the lower level of the WPSL
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 also hired as the club's camps director.
International career
McDonnell first represented the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
during a summer 2009 training camp in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Shannon and younger sister Mary Therese McDonnell then featured in Ireland's failed qualifying campaign for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Their eligibility for the Irish team derived from their grandfather, who was from Foxford
Foxford
Foxford, historically called Bellasa , is a small village 16 km south of Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland. The village stands on the N26 national primary route from Swinford to Ballina and has a railway station served by trains between Dublin and Ballina.Situated between the Nephin and Ox...
.
External links
- Shannon McDonnell at Illinois Fighting IlliniIllinois Fighting IlliniThe 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....
- Shannon McDonnell at UEFAUEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
- Mary Therese McDonnell at FAIFootball Association of IrelandThe Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...