IT’S SKY BLUE HEAVEN FOR SMART LEAH
SCORING your first professional goal is special for any player.
But scoring your first goal as a professional two weeks after graduating from university is something very special, writes Kieran Theivam.
That was the scenario for English striker Leah Galton, who is just two weeks into her debut season for New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC in the American National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Galton, from Harrogate, donned her cap and gown on May 15 as she graduated from New York-based Hofstra University.
Just 14 days later, she was pulling on her boots to score on just her second appearance for Sky Blue, coming on as a second half substitute to earn her side a 1-1 draw away at league leaders Chicago Red Stars.
“I came on at half-time and within about three minutes I got a yellow card, so I was thinking ‘oh god, not a great first impression’,” she said.
“My coach wanted to see how I responded to that, so scoring the goal was great, but I don’t really remember a lot about it.”
The goal and point for Galton’s side went some way to helping to forget memories of her debut, which came a week earlier against Western New York Flash – a 5-2 defeat.
“That was rough, especially as it was my first game,” she said.
“But I came on at 4-0 down without any pressure, and I was able to provide an assist, so it wasn’t a bad position for me to come into.” Galton was selected by Sky Blue in the 2016 college draft back in January, but was unable to start the season with her new side due to still being at university. Her club was only able to apply for the necessary visa once she had graduated, meaning she wasn’t able to fully participate with the team until her registration was activated, which came just a few days before her debut. “It was difficult to practise by myself because I had to do a lot of work off the field and at the gym, but I just made sure I was practising when I had the opportunity. “It’s pretty tough because we train every day for two hours, but I’m getting there and I’m almost 90 minutes fit.” The Yorkshire-born forward’s main aim now is to be starting games and building on her debut goal last week. There’s a naivety to her approach with the young striker admitting she knows little about the teams or players in her league. “I kind of like not knowing too much about the other teams, because I can just go out there and play my normal game and not worry about other players,” she said.“It doesn’t matter who they are – I just want to go out there, play my game and try to beat them.”