Kealia Mae Ohai ( kay-LEE-?; born January 31, 1992) is an American soccer player. She captains the Houston Dash and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team. She scored the single winning goal in the final match of the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup; the only goal Germany conceded in the entire tournament. After a breakthrough in the second half of the 2016 National Women's Soccer League season where she scored 11 goals in 10 games, Ohai earned her first call up for the United States Women's National Soccer Team.
Video Kealia Ohai
Early life
Ohai was born to Ben and Cindy Ohai and raised in Draper, Utah. Her sister, Megan, is a former youth national team member who played soccer at USC where she won the 2007 NCAA championship. Her father, who is Native Hawaiian, named her after Kealia Beach on the island of Kauai.
Ohai, who graduated from Alta High School in June 2010, was a four-year varsity soccer player at the school. She led the team to four straight state soccer championships from 2006-2009. She was a two-time Gatorade state player of the year, three-time first-team high school All-America, three-time All-State selection, three-time 5A soccer MVP, and the 2010 NSCAA National High School Player of the year. In June 2010, she earned Parade All-American honors.
As a youth, Ohai also played club soccer for the Utah Avalanche. With the team, she won state title four times.
Maps Kealia Ohai
Playing career
Collegiate
North Carolina Tar Heels
A four-year starter with the Tar Heels from 2010 to 2013, Ohai was a member of the 2012 championship-winning team. She was named the tournament's most outstanding offensive player after scoring the game-winning goal during overtime in the semi-final and the first goal of the final in the second minute of the match.
Following her freshman year playing for the Tar Heels, Ohai was named to the First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and ACC All-Freshman Team. She led the team in scoring with 14 goals and started 22 of the team's 24 games. During her sophomore year, she started in all 20 games in which she played. She scored six goals, including a team high of 3 game-winning goals and served six assists. In her third year with the Tar Heels, Ohai led the team in points (23) and goals (9).
Club
Houston Dash
Ohai was selected as the second overall pick in the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Houston Dash as the expansion team's very first college draft pick. Of her draft selection, Dash head coach Randy Waldrum said, "I couldn't have asked for things to fall into place so well. It was an amazing day for the Dash. Starting with the selection of Kealia Ohai, we got one of the nation's best forwards. She has great pace, is extremely athletic, and can really stretch defenses with her speed."
She became the club's captain midway through the 2016 season, which coincided with a scoring streak which saw her net 11 goals in 10 games and make a late bid for the golden boot. She was beaten on an assist tie-break by Lynn Williams.
Ohai tore her ACL during the 2017 season.
International
A member of the U.S. youth national programs from the age of 13, Ohai has played with the under-15, under-17, under-18, under-20, and the under-23 teams. As a member of the 2012 US U-20 Women's National Team, she won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and scored the game-winning goal in the 44th minute of the final to lead the U.S. to victory over Germany.
Ohai made her international debut for the senior team on October 23, 2016 against Switzerland in a friendly match in Minneapolis. She scored 48 seconds after entering the match as a substitute in the 81st minute, setting a record for the fastest goal in a US women's national team debut.
Honors
College
University of North Carolina
- NCAA Women's Soccer Championship: 2012
International
- CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2012
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2012
Personal life
Ohai's brother-in-law is NFL player Brian Cushing, who last played for the Houston Texans. Ohai is legally blind in her right eye.
Ohai is in a relationship with J. J. Watt.
See also
- List of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
- List of Senior CLASS Award women's soccer winners
References
External links
- Kealia Ohai - FIFA competition record
- US Soccer player profile
- North Carolina player profile
- Kealia Ohai profile at Houston Dash
Source of article : Wikipedia
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