Paige Metayer

Paige Metayer
Metayer with the Washington Spirit in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-09-23) September 23, 2000 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth Irvine, California, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Washington Spirit
Number 26
Youth career
So Cal Blues
2015–2018 University High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2022 California Golden Bears 89 (9)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Washington Spirit 22 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 31, 2024

Paige Metayer (born September 23, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the California Golden Bears.

Youth career

Metayer grew up in Irvine, California, and attended University High School, where she was twice named the girls' soccer team's most valuable player and set a school record in the 400-meter dash. In 2018, the school named her its girls' athlete of the year.[2] Metayer also played youth soccer for Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) team So Cal Blues, where she appeared in three consecutive national playoffs and won the 2017 Surf Cup.[3]

College career

Metayer played NCAA Division I women's soccer for the California Golden Bears, where she scored nine goals and registered one assist in 89 matches played.[3] She scored her first collegiate goal on September 17, 2018, against UC Davis.[4]

At the University of California, Berkeley, Metayer studied data science and economics.[5]

Club career

Metayer was not selected in the 2023 NWSL Draft.[6]

Washington Spirit, 2023–

NWSL club Washington Spirit invited Metayer to join the team during the 2023 preseason as a non-rostered invitee.[5][7] On March 8, 2023, she signed a three-year contract with the team with an option for an additional year.[8] She debuted for the Spirit in the team's first match of her rookie season on March 26, 2023, as a starter against OL Reign.[9] After being the only rookie to start in the Spirit's first three matches of the season, she received a second yellow and red card ejection and one-match suspension on April 1 in a match against Racing Louisville FC.[10]

On May 6, she scored her first professional goal in a 3–1 win against San Diego Wave FC.[6][11] She also scored an equalizing header in a 1–1 draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC on May 28,[12][13] assisted on Ashley Sanchez's match-winning goal against Angel City FC on June 10,[14] and scored an equalizing goal in the Spirit's 3–2 win over Kansas City Current on June 18.[15]

On July 6, 2023, the NWSL named Metayer its June Rookie of the Month, citing her June 10 assist and June 18 goal as well as her shot-creating actions.[16]

Playing style

With the Washington Spirit, Metayer plays on the right side of the team's 4–4–2 diamond formation, covering defensively and serving as an aerial threat offensively.[17] In May 2023, American women's soccer outlet The Equalizer described Metayer as a U.S. national team prospect as either a holding or box-to-box midfielder, citing her pace, positioning, footwork, and tackling.[18]

Career statistics

As of March 31, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Washington Spirit 2023 NWSL 21 3 6 0 — 27 3
2024 1 0 — — 1 0
Career total 22 3 6 0 0 0 28 3
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs

Honors

References

  1. ^ a b "Paige Metayer". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Promising futures for Irvine scholars". OC Sports Zone. July 8, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Paige Metayer". California Golden Bears. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Ghiozzi, Adriana (September 17, 2018). "Paige Metayer shines as Bears, Aggies end in a draw". The Daily Californian. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Metayer, Paige (May 2, 2023). "Spirit don't lose and Paige Metayer Interview". RFK Refugees (Interview). Interviewed by Jon Hoffman and Ted Meyer. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Rantz, Susie (May 7, 2023). "Washington Spirit, Portland Thorns remain undefeated in NWSL". Associated Press. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "Washington Spirit Announces Official Preseason Roster" (Press release). Washington Spirit. January 25, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "Washington Spirit Adds to Roster with Six First-Year Player Contracts" (Press release). Washington Spirit. March 8, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  9. ^ Carlisle, André (March 29, 2023). "4 NWSL rookies to watch this year". Gaming Society. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Elliott, Annie (April 4, 2023). "5 things about Washington Spirit's draw with Racing Louisville". The District Press. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "Unsung Heroes – An NWSL Series: Matchday 6". All For XI. May 10, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Floyd, Thomas (May 28, 2023). "Rookie Paige Metayer's header lifts the Spirit to a draw with Gotham FC". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Rookie Metayer pulls Spirit into 1–1 draw with Gotham". Associated Press. May 28, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  14. ^ Dulhanty, Emily (June 12, 2023). "Halfway through the NWSL season, three points separate first from sixth". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  15. ^ Green, PJ (June 18, 2023). "KC Current skid continues in loss to Washington". FOX 4. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Washington Spirit Midfielder Paige Metayer Named June Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  17. ^ Newman, Blair (April 17, 2023). "What we have learned from Mark Parsons' Washington Spirit in the first three games". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Newman, Blair (May 16, 2023). "Top 50 USWNT prospects for the 2027 World Cup: Nos. 40–31". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 27, 2023.