Christen Westphal
![]() Westphal playing for Boston Breakers in 2017 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Cristen Joan Westphal[1] | ||
Date of birth | September 2, 1993 | ||
Place of birth | Brecksville, Ohio, United States | ||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | San Diego Wave | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2012–2015 | Florida Gators | 96 | (4) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2017 | Boston Breakers | 26 | (1) |
2018–2019 | Reign FC | 16 | (0) |
2020–2021 | Portland Thorns | 25 | (0) |
2022– | San Diego Wave | ||
National team | |||
2014–2016 | United States U23 | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 15, 2020 |
Cristen Joan "Christen" Westphal (born September 2, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for San Diego Wave FC. She previously played for the Portland Thorns, Reign FC, and Boston Breakers, as well as the United States women's national under-23 soccer team. She played collegiate soccer for the Florida Gators.
Collegiate career[]
Westphal attended the University of Florida where she played as a center back for the Florida Gators women's soccer team from 2012–15. Her senior year, TopDrawerSoccer named her one of the top 10 women's soccer defenders in the NCAA's Division 1.[2] The same year she was named Southeastern Conference Soccer Defender of the Year.[3] Westphal was named to the All-SEC team every year of her collegiate career, and was named to the SEC first team three consecutive years.[3] Her senior year, she led the Gators (and tied for first in the SEC) in assists with 10 and was named as a Hermann Trophy semifinalist.[4][5]
Club career[]
Boston Breakers, 2016–17[]
Westphal was drafted by Boston Breakers in the first round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft.[6][7][8] She signed with Boston in March 2016 and made her debut on April 16, 2016 against Washington Spirit.[9][10] During her rookie season, she was a starting defender in 7 of the 13 games in which she played and scored one goal.[11] The goal against the Western New York Flash was nominated for Goal of the Week.[12] During the 2017 season, Westphal started in all 13 games that she played and recorded an assist. A right foot injury endured in a match against Seattle on July 15 ended her season prematurely.[11] The Breakers finished the 2017 season in ninth place with a 4–13–7 record.[11]
Reign FC, 2018–19[]
Westphal was selected by the Reign FC in the 2018 NWSL Dispersal Draft after Boston folded unexpectedly ahead of the 2018 season.[13]
Portland Thorns, 2020–21[]
Westphal was out of contract after the 2019 season, and her NWSL rights were traded to Portland Thorns.[14]
San Diego Wave, 2022–[]
Immediately after the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft, it was announced that San Diego Wave acquired the rights to Westphal and from Portland via trade. San Diego had passed on several picks, instead negotiating the trade.[15]
International career[]
Westphal has represented the United States on the under-23 national team She competed at the 2015 Four Nations Tournament in Norway and helped the U.S. win the tournament.[16]
Honors and awards[]
Club[]
- NWSL Community Shield : 2020
- NWSL Challenge Cup: 2021
- International Champions Cup: 2021[17]
- NWSL Shield: 2021
References[]
- ^ "Christen Westphal – Defender". Boston Breakers. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Christen Westphal, Florida | College Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
- ^ a b "Savannah Jordan & Christen Westphal SEC Soccer Players of the Year". Florida Gators. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
- ^ "Westphal Does It All". Florida Gators. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
- ^ "Three Named MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists". Big12Sports.com. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
- ^ Duke, J. J. "Christen Westphal: A Gator Heads North". Our Game Magazine. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
- ^ "UF soccer player lands first round draft pick with Boston Breakers – WCJB TV-20". Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ^ "Emily Sonnett is first overall pick; View full outcome of the 2016 NWSL College Draft". Women's Soccer United.
- ^ "Christen Westphal Signs with Boston Breakers". Florida Gators.
- ^ "Breakers sign defender Christen Westphal – Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on 2016-05-07. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
- ^ a b c VAVEL.com (2017-11-14). "Boston Breakers re-sign defender Christen Westphal for the 2018 NWSL season". VAVEL. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
- ^ National Women's Soccer League (2016-06-29), Goal of the Week Nominee: Christen Westphal - Week 10, retrieved 2019-04-23
- ^ Ltd, Simplestream. "National Women's Soccer League". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
- ^ "Thorns FC acquire rights to defender Christen Westphal in 2020 NWSL Draft day trade with Reign FC". Portland Timbers. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "San Diego Wave FC acquire rights to Amirah Ali and Christen Westphal". LAG Confidential. December 16, 2021.
- ^ "2015 Four Nations Tournament". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
- ^ Snipes, Tyler (August 22, 2021). "The Portland Thorns are WICC Champions!". International Champions Cup.
External links[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christen Westphal. |
- 1993 births
- Living people
- American women's soccer players
- Boston Breakers (NWSL) draft picks
- Boston Breakers (NWSL) players
- Florida Gators women's soccer players
- National Women's Soccer League players
- People from Brecksville, Ohio
- OL Reign players
- Soccer players from Ohio
- Sportspeople from Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Women's association football defenders
- Portland Thorns FC players
- OL Reign draft picks
- San Diego Wave FC players