Kristen Hamilton

Kristen Hamilton (born April 17, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League and for Western Sydney Wanderers in the Australian W-League.

Kristen Hamilton
Personal information
Full name Kristen Hamilton
Date of birth (1992-04-17) April 17, 1992
Place of birth Littleton, Colorado, United States
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 North Carolina Courage
Number 23
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Denver Pioneers 88 (51)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Colorado Rapids Women 20 (12)
2014–2016 Western New York Flash 25 (0)
2017– North Carolina Courage 67 (15)
2019 Western Sydney Wanderers (loan) 12 (7)
National team‡
2019– United States 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 28, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of February 29, 2020

Early life

Hamilton grew up playing club soccer for the Colorado Storm. She attended Columbine High School from 2006–2010.

University of Denver Pioneers, 2010–2013

Hamilton attended the University of Denver from 2010 to 2013 where she played for the Denver Pioneers and became the school's all-time leader is points (138) and goals (51).[1] She was one 25 NCAA players, in all divisions, to have 30+ goals and 20+ assists in their career and the only NCAA Division I athlete in history to be named player of the year in three different conferences. Hamilton finished her career ranked third at Denver in all-time assists with 36 and fifth nationally. She ranked fourth in career points and sixth in goals. Starting all 88 games in the forward position, she averaged 0.58 goals and 0.41 assists per game, ranking No. 21 in goals and No. 5 in assists per game nationally.

In 2011, Hamilton was named Female Athlete of the year by the University of Denver and the team's Most Valuable Player. The following year in 2012, she was named NSCAA Third Team All-American and to the First Team All-West Region. She was named WAC Player of the Year and was a First Team All-WAC selection. The same year, she was twice named WAC Offensive Player of the Week for the weeks of September 10 and 24. She was also named College Sports 360's National Player of the week for Week 6.

In 2013, Hamilton was named NSCAA First Team All-American, First Team All-Great Lakes Region, and Summit League Offensive Player of the Year. She was also a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and 2013 Senior CLASS Award Finalist. She was named to the First Team All-Summit League, Summit League All-Tournament Team and was the Summit League Tournament MVP. Hamilton earned 2013 Summit League All-Academic Team honors and was named Capital One Academic All-American as well as NSCAA Scholar All-American. She was the Summit League's Player of the Week twice for the weeks of August 26 and September 16, 2013. She was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on September 18, 2013.

Club career

Colorado Rapids Women, 2012–2014

Hamilton played for two seasons for the Colorado Rapids Women in the W-League under Coach Daniel Clitnovici. In 2012 the USL W-League was the highest tier of professional women's soccer in the USA and Hamilton enjoyed a great season scoring 6 times in 10 games against some of the best players in the country. Hamilton was able to lead the Colorado Rapids to a successful Inaugural season finishing 4th of 8 teams in the Wester Conference arguably the strongest conference in the USL W-League.[2]

Western New York Flash, 2014–2016

Hamilton was selected by the Western New York Flash as the 36th overall pick of the 2014 NWSL College Draft.[3] She was the first University of Denver graduate to be selected in a NWSL draft.[4] She did not play the 2014 season due to an ACL injury suffered in pre-season.[5]

Hamilton was part of the Flash team that won the 2016 NWSL Championship, she entered the game as a substitute in extra time.[6]

North Carolina Courage, 2017–

Following the 2016 season, the Western New York Flash was sold and relocated to North Carolina.[7] She appeared in 16 regular season games for the Courage, scoring 4 goals. She appeared in North Carolina's semi-final match as a first half substitute, replacing the injured Debinha. Hamilton was in the starting line-up for the NWSL Championship game, however she was subbed out in the 39th minute after sustaining an injury. The Courage went on to lose the championship game 1–0 to the Portland Thorns.[8]

In 2018 Hamilton played in 23 regular season games for North Carolina, starting 8 games. She scored 3 goals, as North Carolina won the 2018 NWSL Shield. Hamilton appeared in the semi-final game as a second half substitute as North Carolina defeated the Chicago Red Stars to advance to their second straight final.[9] She was a second half sub in the Championship Game, which North Carolina won 3-0 over Portland, winning the 2018 NWSL Championship.[10]

In 2019, Hamilton scored her first career hat trick, followed by a four-goal game vs Houston to tie the league record for most goals in a single game.

International career

Hamilton was called up as an overaged player to the United States U23 team on August 21, 2019.[11] Five days later, she received her first call-up to the senior team due to a number of injuries.[12]

On September 3, 2019, Hamilton earned her first cap with the senior national team, coming on in the second half for fellow NC Courage teammate Jessica MacDonald, in a friendly against Portugal.

Honors

Individual

  • 2013 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist
  • 2013 Senior CLASS Award finalist
  • NWSL Second XI: 2019

Club

Western New York Flash

North Carolina Courage

References
  1. Kennedy, Julia Jean (December 2, 2015). "Advice to my 13-year-old self: NWSL player Kristen Hamilton". Excelle Sports. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  2. "Rapids Women sign three from University of Denver". Colorado Rapids. May 6, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  3. "DU's Hamilton Selected by Western New York Flash in NWSL Draft". The Summit League. January 17, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  4. "HAMILTON BECOMES FIRST PIONEER TO BE SELECTED IN THE NWSL DRAFT". Denver Pioneers. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  5. "Featured Player: Kristen Hamilton". The 18. June 15, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  6. "NWSL Championship". October 9, 2016. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  7. "Western New York Flash sold, will move to North Carolina". January 6, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  8. "NWSL Championship Game". October 14, 2017. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  9. "Kristen Hamilton". Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  10. "Courage cap off record-setting season with NWSL Championship win". September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  11. [U-23 WNT WILL TRAVEL TO 2019 NORDIC TOURNAMENT TO FACE NORWAY, ENGLAND AND SWEDEN "https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2019/08/us-u23-wnt-travels-2019-nordic-tournament-norway-england-sweden"] Check |url= value (help). US Soccer. August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. External link in |title= (help)
  12. "DEFENDER CASEY SHORT AND FORWARD KRISTEN HAMILTON ADDED TO U.S. WNT ROSTER FOR MATCHES VS. PORTUGAL IN PHILADELPHIA AND ST. PAUL, MINN". US Soccer. August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
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