Heather Hinz
American soccer player (born 2001) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Heather Hinz (born June 27, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where she was named SEC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023. She was drafted by the Dash in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.
.jpg) Hinz training with the Houston Dash in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 27, 2001[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Laytonsville, Maryland, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Houston Dash | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2023 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 78 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Houston Dash | 1 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Fort Lauderdale United (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 24, 2024 | |||
Early life and college career
Summarize
Perspective
Hinz was born in Laytonsville, Maryland, to Laura and Lance Hinz.[1][2] She has three older sisters, one of whom, Megan, played soccer as a goalkeeper at Michigan before turning professional and then becoming a college coach.[3] Hinz started out as a striker before being asked to play in goal after an injury to the goalkeeper for her Olympic Development Program team.[3] She played high school soccer at Our Lady of Good Counsel and ECNL club soccer for Bethesda Union.[2]
South Carolina Gamecocks
Following one season as a backup, Hinz became the starting goalkeeper for the South Carolina Gamecocks during the pandemic-abbreviated 2020 season.[2][3] In the 2021 postseason, she had to make only three saves in an upset of North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA tournament and went on to record a career-high eleven saves in their quarterfinal loss to BYU.[2][4] She led the country with 13 clean sheets in the 2022 season, part of the strong defense on a Gamecock team that ranked as high as third nationally.[5] In that year's SEC championship, she saved three penalty kicks in a semifinal shootout against Georgia and made a last-minute save to keep her shutout against Alabama in the title game, being named the tournament's most valuable player.[2][6][7] She recorded ten shutouts in 2023, leading the conference in save percentage and goals against average, and was recognized as the SEC Goalkeeper of the Year and first-team All-SEC.[2]
Club career
Hinz was drafted 38th overall by the Houston Dash in the third round of 2024 NWSL Draft.[8] She was signed to a one-year contract with a one-year option, becoming one of the backup options behind reigning NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Jane Campbell.[9][10] Hinz made her professional debut on July 28, 2024, in the group stage of the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, recording six saves in a 3–0 win over Tigres UANL.[11] After an injury to Campbell, Hinz made her first regular-season start on the final matchday on November 2, making five saves in a 3–2 loss to Bay FC.[12]
Following her rookie season, Hinz went on loan to USL Super League club Fort Lauderdale United FC on November 9, 2024.[13] She made two appearances before being recalled to Houston on December 10.[14][15]
Honors
South Carolina Gamecocks
Individual
- SEC Goalkeeper of the Year: 2023
- First-team All-SEC: 2023
- SEC tournament all-tournament team: 2022
References
External links
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