More international experience in the defense comes for the Orlando Pride in the form of Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod. The Pride announced her one-year deal, with an option for one more year, on Feb. 14.
This will be the first time McLeod has played in the National Women’s Soccer League since 2015. She started her NWSL stint in the league’s inaugural season in 2013, playing 16 games for the Chicago Red Stars. She then made the move to the Houston Dash for the next two seasons, captaining the team in 2014. In those three seasons, the 36-year-old started all but one of her 47 games, notching 207 saves and eight clean sheets.
“Erin’s international experience and proven ability to perform consistently at a high level provides us some much-needed depth at the goalkeeper position,” Pride General Manager Erik Ustruck said, per the team’s release. “She is a vocal and natural leader who we know will contribute to build upon the culture we have set out to achieve here in Orlando. We are very excited to welcome her to the Pride.”
Following her first stint in the NWSL, McLeod joined FC Rosengård in Sweden’s top flight and was the team’s starting keeper in 2016 and 2017. She helped Rosengård to two Svenska Cupen titles and a Svenska Supercupen win in 2016. While in Sweden, McLeod played alongside Pride forward Marta Vieira da Silva and newly acquired New Zealand defender Ali Riley.
After Rosengård, McLeod played for Växjö DFF and German sides SC Sand and FF USV Jena.
McLeod started her professional career with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2004, winning two W-League championships from 2004 to 2006. In 2009, she joined the Washington Freedom of the since-discontinued Women’s Professional Soccer.
Regarding her national-team experience, she’s flourished on the international stage. She was featured on the Canadian women’s national team for its 2007, 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup teams and for its 2008 and 2012 Olympic units, too. McLeod helped Canada medal for the first time ever in women’s soccer in 2012, holding the French women’s national team to a shutout in a 1-0 win for bronze.
In total, she has made 118 appearances and has recorded 45 clean sheets for Canada.
McLeod played collegiate ball, first, at Southern Methodist University and then at Penn State University, garnering First Team NSCAA All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors.
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McLeod’s signing comes off the heels of goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer and the Pride officially parting ways on Feb. 4. Kopmeyer, 29, played 13 matches for the Pride, including 10 last season.
For more on the Pride, as they continue to add to their roster ahead of the start of Preseason 2020, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
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