Reggae Girl Schneider on the move
Published:Friday | March 25, 2022 | 12:06 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Ahead of the national senior women’s final two first-round World Cup-qualifying games in April, national goalkeeper Sydney Schneider will have a new opportunity to earn a starting spot professionally in her second professional season.
Schneider, 22, signed a one-year deal with National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) outfit Kansas City Current, ending her season-long stay with the Washington Spirit, who drafted her last year. The announcement was made on Wednesday.
Schneider was selected by Washington with the 29th overall pick in January 2021 but did not make a club appearance in their championship-winning campaign last year, as she was unable to displace their number one goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. Schneider will be in another battle for the number one spot, competing with established Kansas City (KC) starter Adrianna Franch.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
KC General Manager Camille Levin Ashton said that Schneider’s signing strengthens the goalkeeping unit, with her international experience being an asset to a team that is looking to improve on their 2021 campaign.
“We are excited to bring Sydney into the goalkeeping mix this year. It’s important to have depth at such an important position, and adding an international-calibre player will make the entire unit stronger,” Levin Ashton said on the club’s website.
KC finished bottom of the 10-team table in 2021 with 16 points.
Schneider was recently called up in the February window for the Reggae Girlz’s first two World Cup-qualifying games against Bermuda and Grenada. She started the Grenada game but was unable to keep a clean sheet in their 6-1 win. Schneider has made 19 appearances for the Reggae Girlz so far in her international career. The Reggae Girlz will finish their first-round, group-stage qualifiers next month with matches against Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic.
Schneider could be available for KC’s second NWSL Challenge Cup group-stage game tonight against the Chicago Red Stars. KC drew 1-1 with Racing Louisville in their first group game on March 18. The 2022 NWSL regular season kicks off on April 30 with the Current opening against the Portland Thorns.