Hillary Elizabeth Beall (born January 27, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
 Beall with Racing Louisville in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hillary Elizabeth Beall | ||
| Date of birth | January 27, 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Laguna Beach, California | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | San Diego Wave | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Michigan Wolverines | 76 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Racing Louisville FC | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | → Western United (loan) | 30 | (0) |
| 2024– | San Diego Wave | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2016 | United States U17 | ||
| 2018 | United States U20 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Beall began her professional career at Racing Louisville FC[1] and spent two seasons on loan from the club playing for Western United FC (A-League Women). She was named Player of the Year in her first professional season with Western United, which was also the club’s inaugural season.[2]
Early life
editBeall started playing soccer at the age of eleven[3] first as a striker before switching to goalkeeper.[4] She played at the youth club level for the SoCal Blues.[5]
Beall was ranked nationally as the number one goalkeeper in the class of 2017 and number 9 player overall. She received numerous honors, including being named as a NSCAA Youth All American and named to the Top Drawer Soccer ECNL Top XI for the ECNL Playoffs.[6]
Beall was selected to compete for the US Youth National Team (YNT) at the U14, U15, and U17, U19 and U20 levels.[7][8] She was also named to the U17[9] and U20 NT rosters[10] to compete in the Women's World Cup.
College career
editBeall attended the University of Michigan in the United States, where she was regarded as one of the soccer team's most important players.[1] After being named the No. 1 goalkeeper in the class of 2017 by Top Drawer Soccer,[11] Beall joined the University of Michigan Wolverines. There she numbered 285 saves and achieved a .797 save percentage.[12] As a freshman for Michigan’s 2017 season, Beall appeared in seven matches with six starts and achieved a .838 save percentage.[13] She had a .756 save percentage, making 34 saves[6] her sophomore year (2018), which was shortened due to injury[11] and where she started the final 10 games and earned four wins in net, including three shutouts.[6] Beall’s junior year was one of distinction where she started all 24 games, achieved a save average of .762 and dropped her goals against average from 1.06 her sophomore year to .52.[11] She earned 17 wins in net, including six shutouts. Her 17 wins rank second all-time in Michigan single season history.[6]
In her senior year season, played in the spring of 2021 due to COVID-19, Beall started all 11 games and gave up just six goals. She made 52 saves - a .800 save average.[11]
In her 5th year in the fall of 2021, Beall started 24 of 25 matches with a goal-against average of .74, 87 saves and nine clean sheets. Her regular season 75 saves ranked third in the Big Ten conference.[6] The Wolverines won their first Big Ten tournament in 20 years,[14] and the Michigan Daily identified her as the “lynchpin’ and ‘x-factor’ of the team.[11] In the Big Ten final Beall stopped all three shots on net sending the Wolverines to their first NCAA tournament since 2019[15] and third in the program’s history.[16] The Wolverines eventually lost to the eventual National Champion Florida State in overtime.[16]
Club career
editSC Blue Heat FC, 2021
editBeall played in the United Women’s Soccer (UWS) Pro-Am league for SC Blue Heat in the summer of 2021. The club won the national championship and Beall was named Goalkeeper of the Year.[17]
Racing Louisville FC, 2022–2024
editBeall was signed as a rookie to Racing Louisville FC, and towards the end of the 2022 season, she was sent on loan to play for Australian side Western United through early 2024.[18][19] She returned to Racing Louiville after the loan[19] and was traded to the San Diego Wave before the start of the 2024 season.[20]
Western United FC (loan), 2022–2024
editBeall spent two professional seasons on loan from Louisville Racing to Western United, an A-League Women’s expansion club based in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.[21] She was described as a "revelation for Western United... keeping seven clean sheets to help United to second place on the table and an appearance in the grand final."[19] The 2022-23 season was one of firsts – Beall’s first professional season and Western United’s inaugural season in the A-League. Due to its successful challenges of more established clubs, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) deemed Western United’s first year in top-flight play a ‘fairytale’ one, which included an upset 1-0 victory over Sydney FC to reach the grand final.[2][22]
One of the squad’s vice captains,[19] Beall was named Western’s Player of the Season and crowned Liberty A-League Goalkeeper of the Year, named in the Professional Football Australia’s (PFA) team of the season and voted Player of the Month twice. She also garnered the ‘Save of the Year’ trophy at the Dolan Warren awards night.[23]
Beall returned for her second season with Western United, which, according to its general manager Mal Impiombato, was an indicator of the club’s commitment to be a serious contender in the A-League.[24] “Hillary was the best goalkeeper in the competition last season and we are delighted to have her return and be a key part of our roster again,” he said.[24] “Her accolades and awards spoke to the quality she brought on the pitch and it was important for us to bring that back into our squad as we continue to aim high in the Liberty A-League.”[24]
San Diego Wave FC, 2024–
editBeall joined the San Diego Wave as a goalkeeper in the 2024 pre-season.[25] She made her debut for San Diego on July 20, 2024, in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. During the club's 3–1 victory over Bay FC, Beall saved a penalty kick attempt from Deyna Castellanos near the end of the game.[26] Beall was unable to participate in the Wave's next Summer Cup match due to a foot injury.[27]
International career
editBeall represented the United States internationally at youth level.[28] She landed spots on the USA Women’s national teams:
U17 (2016)[29] which won Concaf Championship after defeating Costa Rica.[30] She also made the national team roster for the U17 Women's World Cup in Amman, Jordan;
U20 (2018) which won the Sud Cup and made the national team roster for the U20 Women's World Cup in France.[31]
Style of play
editBeall has been described as "an excellent shot-stopping goalkeeper who augments that with sheer presence on the pitch".[32]
Personal life
editBeall is a native of Laguna Beach, United States.[33]
Honors
editSan Diego Wave
Individidual
| University Career Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Academic All-Big Ten | 2021, 2020, 2019 |
| United Soccer Coaches North Region Second Team | 2021 |
| All-Big Ten Tournament Team | 2021 |
| Two-time team captain (Jr & Sr. years) | 2020-2021 |
| Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week | October 10, 2021 |
| Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week | February 23, 2021 |
| Two-time Third Team All-Big Ten | 2019, 2020 |
| United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-North Region | 2019 |
| CoSIDA Academic All-District Five First Team | 2019 |
| Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week | September 17, 2019 |
| Two-time U-M Academic Achievement Award honoree | 2018, 2019 |
References
edit- ^ a b Cohen, Jacob (September 30, 2019). "Beall shows why she was No.1, carries the weight of Michigan's title hopes". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ a b "Western United's fairytale season continues after booking grand final spot". ABC News. April 16, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Hillary Beall: American with Big Dreams". beyond90.com.au. November 21, 2022.
- ^ "A Family Feel: Hillary Beall". bgn.fm. March 2, 2022.
- ^ Guest, S. N. (August 10, 2015). "Q&A with U.S. U-17 WNT goalkeeper Hillary Beall". SoccerNation. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Hillary Beall - Women's Soccer". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ Guest, S. N. (June 20, 2015). "So Cal Blues Rising Stars". SoccerNation. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. U-19, U-20 Women's National Teams set for training camps". SoccerWire. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "USA roster named for FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup". SoccerWire. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. roster named for U20 Women's World Cup | College Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Cohen, Jacob (September 30, 2019). "Beall shows why she was No.1, carries the weight of Michigan's title hopes". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Hillary Beall". Racing Louisville FC. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Beall Invited to U.S. U-19 National Team Camp". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ Ford, Ryan. "Michigan women's soccer wins Big Ten tournament for first time since 1999". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ Ford, Ryan. "Michigan women's soccer wins Big Ten tournament for first time since 1999". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Ford, Ryan. "Michigan women's soccer bounced from NCAA tournament quarters, 1-0, by FSU in overtime". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "UWS Blog". Lancaster Inferno | Pre-Professional Women's Soccer. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Racing goalkeeper Beall loaned to Australian club". Racing Louisville FC. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c d jimjin (November 4, 2023). "Beall returns to the west". Brimbank & North West. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Racing Louisville trades GK Hillary Beall to San Diego". Reuters. January 8, 2024.
- ^ "Western United FC (A-League Women)", Wikipedia, February 22, 2024, retrieved March 12, 2024
- ^ "Racing Louisville trades GK Hillary Beall to San Diego". Reuters. January 8, 2024.
- ^ jamesdodd (February 16, 2024). "Western United dealt big blow with fan favourite set to depart next week". A-Leagues. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c jimjin (November 2, 2023). "Beall returns to the west as United signs young gun". Wyndham. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Emerick, Tyler (January 8, 2024). "San Diego Wave FC Acquires Goalkeeper Hillary Beall from Racing Louisville". BVM Sports. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Emerick, Tyler (July 21, 2024). "San Diego Wave FC Defeat Bay FC 3-1 at Torero Stadium in NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ "The Sporting Tribune". The Sporting Tribune. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ "Hillary Beall - Soccer Nation article". August 10, 2015.
- ^ Guest, S. N. (August 10, 2015). "Q&A with U.S. U-17 WNT goalkeeper Hillary Beall". SoccerNation. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. U-17 WNT set to face Costa Rica in final CONCACAF group match". SoccerWire. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. roster named for U20 Women's World Cup | College Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "A-Leagues dealmakers ready to define this season". March 30, 2023.
- ^ "Beall solid as Wolverines fell No. 13 Washington State". michigandaily.com. September 16, 2019.
- ^ "San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup". March 16, 2024.