Leslie Osborne
Encyclopedia
Leslie Marie Osborne is an American
soccer defensive midfielder
who currently plays for the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer
and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team
.
and attended Catholic Memorial High School
in Waukesha, Wisconsin
. She went on play college soccer at Santa Clara University
in Santa Clara, California
. As a freshman, she was a key member of the Santa Clara team that won the 2001 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
. As a senior in 2004, she was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy
and won the Honda Sports Award
as the nation's outstanding collegiate female player.
Osborne was an assistant coach for the Santa Clara women's team for several years. In 2009, she played for the Women's Professional Soccer
FC Gold Pride
, in their inaugural season, but was made a free agent following the season and signed with the Boston Breakers.
. After sitting out the first U.S. game of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in favor of Shannon Boxx
, she played all 90 minutes in all five remaining matches. During the 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil
, Osborne scored an unlucky own goal
in an attempt to clear a corner kick
.
In May 2008, Osborne tore her ACL
before the 2008 Olympics
, which caused her to miss the Beijing
games. She took nearly a year to rehab the knee injury, causing her to miss several national team games and lose her regular starting position on the national team. She is currently battling to gain back her regular starting place.
sportswear company, Puma
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer defensive midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who currently plays for the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
.
Career
Osborne grew up in Brookfield, WisconsinBrookfield, Wisconsin
Brookfield is a city located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. It had a population of 37,920 in the 2010 census. Brookfield is the second largest city in Waukesha County, and the leading commercial suburb of Milwaukee. The City of Brookfield was formed in 1954 from the Town of...
and attended Catholic Memorial High School
Catholic Memorial High School (Wisconsin)
Catholic Memorial High School is a co-educational Catholic high school in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Established in 1949, it is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association as well as a World School in the .- History :...
in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
. She went on play college soccer at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
in Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
. As a freshman, she was a key member of the Santa Clara team that won the 2001 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...
. As a senior in 2004, she was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
and won the Honda Sports Award
Honda Sports Award
The Honda Sports Award is an annual award in the United States of America, given to the best collegiate female athlete in each of twelve sports. There are four nominees for each sport, and the twelve winners of the Honda Award are automatically in the running for the Honda-Broderick Cup award, as...
as the nation's outstanding collegiate female player.
Osborne was an assistant coach for the Santa Clara women's team for several years. In 2009, she played for the Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, in their inaugural season, but was made a free agent following the season and signed with the Boston Breakers.
International
Osborne was a member of U.S. national youth teams in 2002 and 2003, and earned her first cap with the senior national team on January 30, 2004 against SwedenSweden women's national football team
Sweden women's national football team are a football team officially representing Sweden in women's football. They won the unofficial European Championships in 1984, a success the team has not managed to repeat, it has however won one World Cup-silver as well as three European Cup-silvers...
. After sitting out the first U.S. game of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in favor of Shannon Boxx
Shannon Boxx
Shannon Boxx is an American soccer midfielder currently playing for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team....
, she played all 90 minutes in all five remaining matches. During the 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil
Brazil women's national football team
The Brazil women's national football team represents Brazil in international women's association football. Brazil played their first game on July 22, 1986 against the United States....
, Osborne scored an unlucky own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
in an attempt to clear a corner kick
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
.
In May 2008, Osborne tore her ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
before the 2008 Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and several other cities in the People's Republic of China from 6 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23 teams to participate...
, which caused her to miss the Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
games. She took nearly a year to rehab the knee injury, causing her to miss several national team games and lose her regular starting position on the national team. She is currently battling to gain back her regular starting place.
Sponsor
Osborne has a primary sponsorship with GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
sportswear company, Puma
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
.
External links
- US Soccer player profile
- Boston Breakers player profile
- Graham Hayes, "Osborne provides unparalleled depth in midfield", ESPN.comESPN.comESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
, Sept. 7, 2007 - Leslie Osborne's World Cup blog (Santa Clara University)