Alexis Souahy

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alexis Souahy

| fullname =

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|1|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Defender

| currentclub = San Antonio FC

| clubnumber = 5

| youthyears1 = 2008–2014

| youthclubs1 = Le Havre

| collegeyears1 = 2014

| college1 = Notre Dame Falcons

| collegecaps1 = 18

| collegegoals1 = 2

| collegeyears2 = 2015–2017

| college2 = Bowling Green Falcons

| collegecaps2 = 55

| collegegoals2 = 6

| years1 = 2012–2014

| clubs1 = Le Havre B

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2016–2017

| clubs2 = Michigan Bucks

| caps2 = 26

| goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2018–2021

| clubs3 = Louisville City

| caps3 = 82

| goals3 = 5

| years4 = 2022

| clubs4 = New Mexico United

| caps4 = 24

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2023

| clubs5 = Union Omaha

| caps5 = 32

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2024

| clubs6 = Spokane Velocity

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2024

| clubs7 = FC Tulsa

| caps7 = 31

| goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2025–

| clubs8 = San Antonio FC

| caps8 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2021–

| nationalteam1 = Comoros

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 17 January 2025

| nationalteam-update = 00:47, 3 January 2022 (UTC)

}}

Alexis Souahy (born 13 January 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for San Antonio FC in the USL Championship. Born in France, he plays for the Comoros national team.

Early life

=Personal=

Souahy was born in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France to Yolaine Souahy. When he was thirteen he moved to Le Havre to join Le Havre AC's academy and attended senior high school at Lycée Saint-Joseph. While at Le Havre AC's academy he made an appearance for their B team in 2013; helping the academy team to fourth-place finishes in both the U-19 National Championship and the Championnat de France amateur 2 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://bgsufalcons.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6534|title=2017 Men's Soccer Roster; Alexis Souahy|last=|first=|year=2017|publisher=Bowling Green University|access-date=10 May 2018|location=Bowling Green, OH|quote= }}

=College and youth=

Souahy was originally accepted to play college soccer at Bowling Green State University only to be ruled ineligible for Division I soccer by the NCAA when his international credits didn't transfer.{{cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2018/03/15/alexis-souahy-louisville-city-fc-france-bowling-green-state/424361002/|title=LouCity's newest player already has an eye on a USL Cup. Meet the fan favorite from France|last=Lerner|first=Danielle|date=16 March 2018|work=The Courier-Journal|access-date=11 May 2018|location=Louisville, KY|quote= }} Instead he played one year of soccer at Division II Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio. In his one year at Notre Dame he started all 17 of the team's regular season matches and played 1,584 minutes out of an available 1,592. He scored two goals during the season. The first on 13 September 2014, against Wheeling Jesuit University and the second on 20 September against West Virginia Wesleyan.{{cite web|url=http://www.notredamefalcons.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4477|title=Alexis Souahy - 2014 Men's Soccer|last=|first=|year=2014|website=www.notredamefalcons.com|publisher=Notre Dame College|access-date=11 May 2018|location=South Euclid, OH|quote=}} He also played all 90 minutes of Notre Dame's lone NCAA tournament match.

After a year at Notre Dame Souahy transferred to Bowling Green State University and played three more years of college soccer from 2015 to 2017. His first goal as a falcon came on 3 November 2015, against Appalachian State University and was the only goal of his sophomore season.{{cite web|url=https://bgsufalcons.com/news/2015/11/3/MSOC_1103151931.aspx|title=James Nets Winner as Falcons Down ASU, 2-1|last=|first=|date=3 November 2015|website=bgsufalcons.com|publisher=BGSU|access-date=14 May 2018|location=Boone, NC|quote= }} As a junior he contributed two more goals and an assist and was named a MAC top 20 player by Top Drawer Soccer. His senior season he was named a team captain and scored three goals with two assists including a goal in the final home match of the season.{{cite web|url=https://bgsufalcons.com/news/2017/10/28/mens-soccer-first-half-scoring-explosion-propels-falcons-to-3-1-win.aspx|title=First-Half Scoring Explosion Propels Falcons to 3-1 Win|last=|first=|date=28 October 2017|website=bgsufalcons.com|publisher=BGSU|access-date=14 May 2018|location=Bowling Green, OH|quote= }} After the season he was named to the All MAC second team, All Great-Lakes region third team, and All-Ohio first team. During his three years in Bowling Green Souahy made 55 appearances for the Falcons, scoring six goals and tallying five assists. He started every match and played all available minutes save 29 seconds.{{cite press release |title=Louisville City FC Pens Defender Alexis Souahy |url=https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/875987 |url-status=live |type=Press release |location=Louisville, KY |publisher=LCFC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321132112/https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/875987 |archive-date=21 March 2018 |access-date=18 October 2018 }}

While at college, Souahy played with USL PDL side Michigan Bucks in both their 2016 and 2017 seasons.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/12439148 |title=Michigan Bucks - 2016 Regular Season - Roster - # - Alexis Souahy - D |access-date=29 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430050500/https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/12439148 |archive-date=30 April 2018 |url-status=dead }} During the 2016 season he appeared in twelve of Michigan's fourteen regular season matches scoring two goals as Michigan won the PDL's Central Conference Great Lakes Division championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/12439148?subseason=0|title=Alexis Souahy - 2016|last=|first=|year=2016|website=www.uslpdl.com|publisher=USL PDL|access-date=25 May 2018|location=|quote=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526185939/https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/12439148?subseason=0|archive-date=26 May 2018|url-status=dead}} In the PDL Playoffs Souahy played in two of Michigan's four matches as Michigan won the PDL Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160808/NEWS/160809842/michigan-bucks-win-3rd-pdl-championship|title=Michigan Bucks win 3rd PDL championship|last=Ehrmann|first=Chris|date=16 March 2017|work=Crain's Detroit Business|access-date=25 May 2018|location=Pontiac, MI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525211525/http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160808/NEWS/160809842/michigan-bucks-win-3rd-pdl-championship|archive-date=25 May 2018|url-status=live}} During the 2017 season he appeared in all fourteen of Michigan's regular season matches as Michigan repeated as PDL Central Conference Great Lakes Division champions scoring one goal. He also played in Michigan's lone PDL Playoffs match.{{cite web|url=https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/18033110?subseason=376352|title=Alexis Souahy - 2017|last=|first=|year=2017|website=www.uslpdl.com|publisher=USL PDL|access-date=25 May 2018|location=|quote=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526112813/https://www.uslpdl.com/roster_players/18033110?subseason=376352|archive-date=26 May 2018|url-status=dead}} During the 2017 Souahy appeared in two of Michigan's U.S. Open Cup matches including defeating professional side Indy Eleven of the NASL.{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2017/05/19/michigan-bucks-soccer-us-open-cup/101863304/|title=Metro & state: Michigan Bucks blank Indy in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|date=19 May 2017|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=25 May 2018|location=Detroit, MI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525212932/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2017/05/19/michigan-bucks-soccer-us-open-cup/101863304/?from=new-cookie|archive-date=25 May 2018|url-status=live}}

Club career

On 15 January 2018, Souahy signed his first professional contract with United Soccer League side Louisville City FC. After a preseason injury he would make his professional debut on 22 April against Atlanta United 2. Starting the match in place of an injured Pat McMahon.{{cite web|url=https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/news_article/show/910306|title=Defender Alexis Souahy on his Debut|last=|first=|date=22 April 2018|website=www.louisvillecityfc.com|publisher=LCFC|access-date=11 May 2018|location=Louisville, KY|quote= }} He appeared in 19 of Louisville's 34 league matches including 11 of Louisville last 17 as he slowly became a starter as the season progressed. He scored his first professional goal on 9 September against Pittsburgh{{cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2018/09/15/louisville-city-fc-pittsburgh-riverhounds-draw/1324117002/|title=Louisville City FC gives up late goals, ties Pittsburgh Riverhounds|last=Harten|first=David|date=15 September 2018|work=The Courier-Journal|access-date=20 November 2018|quote=LouCity held that lead through halftime until Alexis Souahy earned his first goal of the season when he put home a pass off a header from Craig in the 70th minute|location=Louisville, KY}} and scored three goals during league competition. He also made his first appearance in the U.S. Open Cup as a professional when he was brought on as a substitute against the Long Island Rough Riders.{{cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2018/05/16/louisville-city-fc-soccer-tops-long-island/617878002/|title=Louisville City FC rolls to US Open Cup win vs. Long Island Rough Riders|last=|first=|date=16 May 2018|work=The Courier-Journal|access-date=20 November 2018|location=Louisville, KY}} He went on to appear in two of Louisville's five U.S. Open Cup matches without scoring as Louisville reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in its history.{{cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2018/07/18/louisville-city-fc-knocked-out-open-cup-loss-chicago-fire/791596002/|title=Louisville City FC knocked out of Open Cup with loss to Chicago Fire|first=Danielle|last=Lerner|website=The Courier-Journal|date=18 July 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018|quote=|location=Bridgeview, IL}} Souahy also appeared in all four of Louisville's USL Cup playoff matches as he and Louisville went on to win the USL Cup Final against Phoenix.

Following the 2021 season, Louisville opted to decline their contract option on Souahy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loucity.com/news_article/show/1196602-loucity-announces-initial-roster-moves-for-2022-season|title=LouCity announces initial roster moves for 2022 season|first=LouCity|last=Communications|date=2 December 2021|website=Louisville City FC - USL Championship|access-date=2 December 2021|archive-date=2 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202171644/https://www.loucity.com/news_article/show/1196602-loucity-announces-initial-roster-moves-for-2022-season|url-status=dead}}

Souahy signed a contract for the 2022 season with USL Championship side New Mexico United on 28 December 2021.

{{Cite web|url=https://www.newmexicoutd.com/news_article/show/1200565|title=NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF COMOROS INTERNATIONAL ALEXIS SOUAHY|date=28 December 2021|website=New Mexico United - USL Championship}}

On 14 February 2023, Souahy signed with USL League One side Union Omaha.{{cite web | url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1260041 | title=Omaha bolster backline with Comoros international Alexis Souahy | date=14 February 2023 }}

Souahy was acquired by USL League One expansion club Spokane Velocity ahead of their inaugural season, but was immediately transferred to USL Championship team FC Tulsa.{{cite web |title=Spokane Velocity FC Transfers Rights for Center Back Alexis Souahy to USL Championship's FC Tulsa |url=https://www.spokanevelocityfc.com/news/2024/02/01/spokane-velocity-fc-transfers-rights-for-center-back-alexis-souahy-to-usl-championships-fc-tulsa/ |website=SpokaneVelocity.com |publisher=Spokane Velocity |access-date=1 February 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Nicholas |title=FC Tulsa acquires defender Alexis Souahy via transfer from Spokane Velocity FC |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1298894 |website=USLLeagueOne.com |date=February 2024 |publisher=USL League One |access-date=1 February 2024}} Souahy and Tulsa mutually parted ways in January 2025.{{cite web |title=While it’s never easy to say goodbye, we want to thank Alexis Souahy for his dedication, passion, and everything he brought to FC Tulsa. |url=https://x.com/FCTulsa/status/1880282703003541686 |website=Twitter.com |publisher=FC Tulsa |access-date=17 January 2025}}

Personal life

Born in France, Souahy is of Comorian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://news.in-24.com/sports/news/259173.html|title=Two players added to the Comoros roster|date=23 December 2021|website=News in 24 Sports English}}

Honours

Louisville City

USL Cup: 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/966965|title=Spencer's Strike Leads Louisville to Second Straight USL Cup|last=Arlia|first=John|date=8 November 2018|website=uslsoccer.com|publisher=USL|access-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109043206/https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/966965|archive-date=9 November 2018|url-status=live|location=Louisville, KY}}