M.A._Vignola

M.A. Vignola

M.A. Vignola

American professional women's soccer player

Mary Alice Vignola (born February 11, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Angel City FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team.[2][4][5]

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Early life

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Vignola was adopted at birth. She is a biracial African American, and her adoptive parents are white. She has an older brother who is also adopted.[6]

Vignola began playing soccer recreationally when she was five years old.[7] She played youth soccer for Ohio Elite, competing in the Elite Clubs National League as a forward.[8] She also played high school soccer for St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, scoring 35 goals and being credited with 26 assists in her high school career.[3][7]

College career

Vignola played in NCAA Division I for the Tennessee Volunteers women's soccer team.[3] During her sophomore season, she switched positions from forward to outside back.[8][3] In 2019, the Southeastern Conference named her to the All-SEC first team.[3]

Club career

Vignola declined to register for the 2019 NWSL College Draft and sought playing opportunities overseas.[8]

Þróttur, 2020

In 2020, Vignola signed with Icelandic club Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur, competing in the Úrvalsdeild kvenna, where she scored six goals in 12 appearances.[2] She scored her first professional goal on June 23, 2020, a long-range equalizing goal during second-half stoppage time in a 2–2 draw against Fylkir.[9]

Valur, 2021

In 2021, Vignola transferred to Icelandic competitors Valur. She tore her right acetabular labrum in her first match with the club but continued playing through the injury, scoring two goals in 18 appearances and winning the Úrvalsdeild kvenna.[8][10]

After winning the league, Vignola competed in the 2021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League with Valur.[11]

Angel City FC, 2022–

NWSL expansion club Angel City FC recruited Vignola and signed her on December 5, 2021, making her the team's second-ever player signing after Christen Press. The team was required to negotiate a trade of $30,000 in NWSL allocation money and protection in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft with the Washington Spirit, which had acquired the rights to sign Vignola through the league's discovery process.[12][13] The club provided rehabilitation services for her hip injury, and she debuted late in her rookie season on September 5, 2022, as an 80th-minute substitute for Madison Hammond in the 2022 Copa Angelina against the Mexico women's national football team.[2][10]

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Vignola made her first start for Angel City on April 15, 2023, against Racing Louisville FC.[8] On June 10, 2023, she scored her first goal for Angel City in a 1–2 loss against Washington Spirit.[14] A week later, she scored the match-winning goal against rivals San Diego Wave FC.[15] Vignola was named to the NWSL 2023 Best XI Second team at the conclusion of the 2023 season, contributing 3 goals and 1 assist in Angel City's first run to the playoffs.[16]

International career

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Vignola earned her first United States youth camp call-up when she was 14 years old.[8] She played for the United States women's national under-17 soccer team in a match against Germany.[3]

Vignola earned a senior national team call-up in September 2023.[17] She made her international debut in her hometown of Cincinnati, OH on September 21, 2023, during a match against South Africa.[18]

    Career statistics

    Club

    As of 23 May 2024
    More information Club, Season ...
    1. Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup.
    2. Includes NWSL Playoffs.
    3. Includes the UEFA Women's Champions League

    International

    As of match played September 21, 2023
    More information National Team, Year ...

    Honors

    Valur

    Individual

    References

    1. [1]
      "2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup – National team roster: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF. January 26, 2024. p. 33. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
    2. [2]
      "Mary Alice Vignola". Angel City FC. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    3. [3]
      "2019 Women's Soccer Roster". Tennessee Volunteers. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    4. [4]
      "Mary Alice Vignola". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    5. [5]
      "M. A. Vignola". US Soccer. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
    6. [6]
      Vignola, M.A. (December 23, 2022). "ACFC x BIRDIES: The Value of Family with M.A. Vignola" (Video). Interviewed by Jennifer Pransky. Retrieved June 18, 2023. So I didn't know that I was adopted until around the age four or five, and even then like I really couldn't even process that. Like I really didn't know what it meant. I just remember my mom coming up to me and sitting me down and saying like, 'Okay, you are loved by us no matter what, we just want you to know we're not your biological parents.' ... I am mixed race, I'm 50 black, 50 white, but my parents are white and I was raised in a very white community.
    7. [7]
      Shanley, Vaughan (September 9, 2014). "A Look At MA Vignola '16". The Light. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    8. [8]
      Best, Katelyn (May 25, 2023). ""It's Always a Battle": MA Vignola's Winding Road to the NWSL" (Press release). Angel City FC. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    9. [9]
      Leifsson, Anton Ingi (June 23, 2020). "Umfjöllun og viðtöl: Fylkir – Þróttur 2–2 | Þróttur náði í óvænt stig í Lautinni" [Coverage and interviews: Fylkir – Þróttur 2–2 | Throttur reached an unexpected score in Lautinna]. Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    10. [10]
      Calhoun, Damian (September 10, 2022). "Angel City defender M.A. Vignola returns from hip injury". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    11. [11]
      "Zürich-Valur". August 20, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    12. [12]
      Hruby, Emma. "Angel City FC adds Mary Alice Vignola in second official player signing". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    13. [13]
      "Angel City Football Club signs Mary Alice Vignola following trade with Washington Spirit" (Press release). December 5, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
    14. [14]
      "Mary Alice Vignola's first goal can't rescue Angel City in loss to Washington". Los Angeles Times. June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    15. [15]
      Rantz, Susie (June 17, 2023). "Vignola scores in 88th minute to propel Angel City FC past Wave". CBC Sports. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
    16. [16]
      "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
    17. [17]
      "Forward Midge Purce and Defender M.A. Vignola will Replace Rose Lavelle and Kelley O'Hara on U.S. Women's National Team Roster for Matches against South Africa in Cincinnati and Chicago | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com.
    18. [18]
      "BRACE FROM LYNN WILLIAMS AND GOAL FROM TRINITY RODMAN LEAD USWNT TO 3-0 WIN AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA IN JULIE ERTZ'S FAREWELL MATCH; U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com.
    19. [19]
      "National Women's Soccer League Announces June Best XI of the Month, Presented by Mastercard" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
    20. [20]
      "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
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