Payton Elizabeth Linnehan (born March 25, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League. She was drafted by the Thorns 11th overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft after playing college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
 Linnehan with Penn State in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Payton Elizabeth Linnehan | ||
| Date of birth | March 25, 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Milford, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Portland Thorns | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2023 | Penn State Nittany Lions | 90 | (34) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Portland Thorns | 3 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2016 | United States U15 | ||
| 2017–2018 | United States U17 | ||
| 2022 | United States U23 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 2, 2024 | |||
Early life
editLinnehan was raised in Douglas, Massachusetts, the daughter of Sheri and Sean Linnehan.[1] She started playing youth soccer when she was about five years old.[2] Linnehan played club soccer for FC Stars of Massachusetts starting at age 12.[2] She attended Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, playing two years for the soccer team before choosing to focus on club soccer.[3][4]
College career
editLinnehan played for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2019 to 2023. She recorded 34 goals and 24 assists in 90 games.[5] She was named the most outstanding offensive player of the 2019 Big Ten tournament after scoring the golden goal in the final.[6] She scored two hat tricks at Penn State: one in the first half of a 2021 match against La Salle[7] and another against Central Connecticut in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament.[8]
Professional career
editThe Portland Thorns chose Linnehan with the 11th pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft.[9][10] She signed for a two-year contract with a mutual third-year option.[11] She scored 90 seconds into her first start for the Thorns on May 1, 2024, and added an assist to Sophia Smith five minutes later to help beat Bay FC 3–2.[12]
International career
editLinnehan played on the United States national under-15, under-17 and under-23 teams.[13] She won the Golden Boot of the 2016 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship as the top scorer of the tournament.
Career statistics
edit- As of May 4, 2024
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Playoffs[b] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Portland Thorns FC | 2024 | NWSL | 4 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
- ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup.
- ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs.
References
edit- ^ Writer, Staff. "Payton Linnehan". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Garven, Rich. "Soccer: Valley Tech's Payton Linnehan with Team USA in Uruguay for U-17 Women's World Cup". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Brechter, Henry. "Top girls' soccer players faced with a tough call – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Kyne, Chris. "Chris Kyne: North Middlesex girls' soccer preps for playoffs". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Vogt, Amanda (January 12, 2024). "Portland Thorns FC drafts women's soccer forward Payton Linnehan in NWSL Draft". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ "Nittany Lions Win Big Ten Tournament Championship". Penn State Nittany Lions. November 10, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Linnehan's hat trick leads PSU to victory over La Salle". WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. August 23, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Connington, Ashley (November 11, 2023). "Penn State Women's Soccer Dominates Central Connecticut State 7-0 In Opening Round Of NCAA Tournament". Onward State. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Odom, Joel (January 13, 2024). "Portland Thorns select winger Payton Linnehan in NWSL draft". oregonlive. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ "Payton Linnehan PTFC". Portland Thorns FC.
- ^ "Portland Thorns FC sign 2024 first-round draft pick Payton Linnehan". Portland Thorns FC.
- ^ Hoffmann, Shane (May 2, 2024). "'That was just the start': Winger Payton Linnehan another example of Portland Thorns' embarrassment of riches". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Alenstein, Lyle (August 20, 2023). "Payton Linnehan destined for her best season as a part of Penn State women's soccer". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
External links
edit- Payton Linnehan at Soccerway.com
- Payton Linnehan at Soccerway
