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Audrey Harding 2019 Action vs Coastal Carolina
Joe Browning/UNCWsports.com

Women's Soccer Brandon Sans

Harding, Schneider Ink Deals with European Clubs

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – A pair of standout UNCW women's soccer alums will continue their professional playing careers in Europe in 2023.

Forward Audrey Harding (2017-21) has signed with KIF Örebro DFF, a Swedish club in the OBOS Damallsvenskan. Goalkeeper Sydney Schneider (2017-19), meanwhile, has inked a deal with AC Sparta Prague of the Czech Women's First League.

"I'm very excited for Audrey and Sydney. Both have signed with top division clubs in Sweden and the Czech Republic," said UNCW Head Coach Chris Neal. "They will get the opportunity to compete for league titles and UEFA Champion's League play. They are paving the way for future Seahawks to follow in their footsteps, and we are very proud of them."

The former Seahawk teammates became the first two UNCW alums to be drafted into the National Women's Soccer League when the Washington Spirit selected them in back-to-back drafts. Schneider was selected 29th overall by the Spirit in 2021 and went on to help Washington to the league championship. Harding was taken by the Washington, D.C.-based club in the draft's 2022 edition.

Schneider made international headlines when she, at 20 years old, served as starting goalkeeper for the Jamaican women's national team in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. The 5-10 netminder saved a penalty kick in her World Cup debut vs. Brazil.

The Dayton, N.J., native became the second UNCW goalkeeper to play every minute in a season when she started all 19 games as a freshman in 2017. Two years later, Schneider captured the Colonial Athletic Association's inaugural Goalkeeper of the Year award after posting a 1.06 goals against average while stopping 73.5 percent of the shots she faced.

"I am excited to sign this contract with AC Sparta," said Schneider. "I am grateful for this opportunity to not only compete and train at a high level, but also travel to new parts of the world I never thought I'd get to experience, let alone call home."

Schneider joined the Kansas City Current for the 2022 campaign.

A 2021 United Soccer Coaches (USC) Scholar All-American, Harding helped the Seahawks win their first CAA regular season championship in 2021 after scoring a team-high eight goals, including six against a conference opponent. The Akron, Ohio, native was a three-time All-CAA selection, including two First-Team nods in her final two seasons, as well as a USC First-Team All-East Region honoree.

Harding played in 68 career games with 35 starts for the Seahawks. The 5-10 forward is the seventh leading scorer in program history with 23 goals and 66 points. Harding is one of three players with 20 career goals and 20 career assists.

"I am beyond grateful to have been given another opportunity by KIF Örebro," said Harding. "This will be an amazing experience to play abroad in a beautiful country with a great team in the top league of Sweden. Hopefully, Sydney and I can both meet up at some point in Europe."

Harding made four starts in nine appearances as a rookie for the Spirit, totaling 324 minutes on the pitch. The 24-year-old collected an assist along with four shots for Washington.
 
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