Leisha Alcia (born March 25, 1982) is a former Canadian soccer player who played as a goalkeeper.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | March 25, 1982 | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2004 | Illinois Fighting Illini | 83 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Toronto Inferno | |||
| 2003 | Hampton Roads Piranhas | ||
| 2004–? | Ottawa Fury | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2005 | Illinois Fighting Illini (assistant) | ||
| 2006 | Western Kentucky Lady Toppers (assistant) | ||
| 2007–2013 | Illinois Fighting Illini (assistant) | ||
| 2019–2022 | WPI Engineers (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
College career
editAlcia attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she played 83 games for the women's soccer team from 2001 to 2004 and served as team captain.[1] She held the school records for career saves with 368, as well as single season goals against average (0.54) and save percentage, single season shutouts (12), career shutouts (24) and consecutive shutouts (6), and single season saves.[2] She was part of their 2003 Big Ten Tournament championship team. Over her four years, she earned All-American honours in 2001 and 2004 and also was named to the All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Tournament Team and she also won the Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year award in 2003–2004.[3]
Club career
editAlcia played for the Toronto Inferno in the USL W-League.[4] In 2003, she played for the Hampton Roads Piranhas.[1] In 2004, she played for the Ottawa Fury where she was named Goalkeeper of the Year, recording 11 shutouts.[5]
International career
editAlcia received her first callup to a U18 national team camp in 1999, followed by a U19 camp the following year.[6]
She earned her first call up to the senior team in 2002. She made her only appearance on November 1, 2006 at the 2006 Peace Queen Cup against the São Paulo state team, which played under the name of Brazil.[7]
Coaching career
editFollowing her career at Illinois, she served as a student assistant coach with the team in 2005. Afterwards, in 2006, she joined Western Kentucky University as an assistant before returning to Illinois as an assistant once again in 2007.[8][9] She later worked with the WPI Engineers women's team as an assistant.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Leisha Alcia profile". Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
- ^ Jaramillo, John (August 13, 2020). "Illini Replay: Leisha Alcia". University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
- ^ Cortes, Angelle (June 5, 2020). "All-time starting 11 shows off star Illini soccer players". The Daily Illini.
- ^ "Pellerud Announces Roster for Australia Series". Canadian Soccer Association. September 20, 2002.
- ^ "W-LEAGUE: Vancouver Whitecaps claim first championship on penalties". Soccer America. August 9, 2004.
- ^ "Leisha Alcia Canada Soccer profile". Canadian Soccer Association.
- ^ "Alcia Earns First International Cap". Illinois Fighting Illini. November 1, 2006.
- ^ "Alcia Named to Team Canada". Illinois Fighting Illini. August 24, 2006.
- ^ "Alcia Returns to Alma Mater as Assistant Coach". Illinois Fighting Illini. February 16, 2007.