Sarah Griffith

For the singer born with the name Sarah Griffiths, see Griff (singer).
Sarah Griffith
Griffith with the Chicago Red Stars in 2024
Personal information
Full name Sarah Elaine Griffith[1]
Date of birth (1999-04-30) April 30, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Naperville, Illinois
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Red Stars
Number 15
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Purdue Boilermakers 72 (26)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Chicago Red Stars 28 (2)
2022–2023 → Newcastle Jets (loan) 11 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 29, 2024

Sarah Elaine Griffith (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She has previously played for Newcastle Jets of the A-League Women.

Early life

Griffith was a ball girl for the Waubonsie Valley High School girls' soccer team, and later graduated from the school.[2][3][4]

College career

Griffith initially committed to play college soccer at Illinois State, later de-committing and committing to play at Purdue.[5]

She played at Purdue from 2017 to 2021.[6] She scored her first collegiate goal on August 27, 2017, against Indiana State.[7]

In 2018, Griffith was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis; she would undergo spinal surgery as she redshirted the 2018 season.[8][9]

She was named to the All-Big Ten Conference second team for the 2020–21 season.[10]

On August 19, 2021, she scored a goal against Kentucky which was featured on SportsCenter,[11] and on August 29, 2021, she recorded a hat-trick against Ball State.[12] For the 2021 season, she was Big Ten Forward of the Year and All-Big Ten first team;[13] she was also named United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team and set a Purdue record with 16 goals.[14]

As a student at Purdue University, Griffith majored in psychological sciences.[6][15]

Club career

In December 2021, Griffith was selected by the Chicago Red Stars in the third round of the 2022 NWSL Draft.[2] She made her NWSL regular season debut on April 30, 2022, playing 80 minutes against Racing Louisville FC.[16] She scored her first goal for the club against Orlando Pride on May 22, 2022. On July 10, 2022, she scored against North Carolina Courage in the stoppage time.[17]

On November 1, 2022, it was announced that Griffith was signed on-loan by Newcastle Jets for the 2022–23 A-League Women season.[18] On November 26, 2022, Griffith scored a hat-trick in a match against Western Sydney Wanderers leading the team to a 4–2 victory.[19] In mid-February 2023, Griffith returned from her loan early to prepare for the 2023 National Women's Soccer League season.[20]

Personal life

Griffith was born to parents Peter and Melissa, and was raised with an older brother, Noah, who played college soccer for Illinois Tech,[21] and a younger brother, Aaron.[5]

Career statistics

As of July 31, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chicago Red Stars 2022 NWSL 19 2 6 0 1 0 — 26 2
2023 6 0 4 0 — — 10 0
2024 6 0 — — 2[c] 1 8 1
Newcastle Jets FC 2022–23 A-League 11 4 — — — 11 4
Career total 42 6 10 0 1 0 2 1 55 7
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs and A-League Women Finals series
  3. ^ NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

Honors

Individual[6]

References

  1. ^ "Hometown Media Degree List – Fall 2021" (XLSX). Purdue University. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "'I gasped so loud it was funny': Waubonsie Valley graduate Sarah Griffith is that ecstatic about being drafted by the Chicago Red Stars". Chicago Tribune. 12 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Sarah Griffith was a ball girl when Vanessa DiBernardo played at Waubonsie Valley. Now, they're both standouts for Chicago Red Stars". Chicago Tribune. 2 August 2022.
  4. ^ Cornwell, Justin (June 8, 2021). "Sarah Griffith; Where Are They Now?". NCTV17.org.
  5. ^ a b Reporter, BRENDON GORHAM Staff (15 October 2021). "'Leave no stone unturned'". Purdue Exponent.
  6. ^ a b c "Sarah Griffith - Soccer". Purdue Boilermakers.
  7. ^ "Purdue Rolls to 6-0 Win vs. Sycamores". Purdue Boilermakers.
  8. ^ Sears, Ethan. "'I think I always wanted to keep playing': Sarah Griffith's return from spinal fusion". The Indianapolis Star.
  9. ^ "Sarah Griffith: Overcoming the Odds". Purdue Boilermakers.
  10. ^ "Griffith and Walsh Named to All-Big Ten Team". Purdue Boilermakers.
  11. ^ "Record Crowd Watches Boilermakers Rally". Purdue Boilermakers.
  12. ^ "Griffith's Hat Trick Fuels Boilermaker Win". Purdue Boilermakers.
  13. ^ "Griffith Named Forward of the Year, Five Earn All-Big Ten Honors". Purdue Boilermakers.
  14. ^ "Sarah Griffith Earns All-America Honor". Purdue Boilermakers.
  15. ^ Brouk, Tim (November 3, 2021). "Purdue soccer captain excels in psychology in the classroom, on the pitch".
  16. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  17. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  18. ^ toml (October 31, 2022). "Newcastle Jets sign American Sarah Griffith". Newcastle Jets. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  19. ^ Valentine, Renee (November 27, 2022). "Chicago Red Stars forward Sarah Griffith stars with hat-trick as Newcastle Jets beat Western Sydney Wanderers 4-2 in round 2 of 2022-23 A-League Women at Scully Park, Tamworth on November 26". The Newcastle Herald.
  20. ^ "Newcastle Jets confirm player transfer movement". Newcastle Jets. February 8, 2023. the Club can confirm that discussions with the Chicago Red Stars have resulted in the Jets agreeing to allow Sarah Griffith to return to the US to prepare for the upcoming season after she completes the next two Jets matches against Western United and Perth Glory.
  21. ^ "Noah Griffith". Illinois Institute of Technology.