Cari Roccaro

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cari Roccaro

| image = NC Courage vs Chicago Red Stars (Jun 2024) 066.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Roccaro with the Chicago Red Stars in 2024

| fullname = Cari Elizabeth Roccaro{{cite web |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FU20W/2014/pdf/FU20W_2014_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 – List of Players: USA |publisher=FIFA |page=16 |date=August 8, 2016 |access-date=April 10, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802183151/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FU20W/2014/pdf/FU20W_2014_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=August 2, 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|7|18}}

| birth_place = East Islip, New York, United States

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=6}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Chicago Stars

| clubnumber = 4

| youthclubs1 = Albertson Fury{{Cite web| url=http://www.nyfurysoccer.com/roster.html| title=New York Fury club roster| publisher=New York Fury| access-date=July 15, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719095435/http://nyfurysoccer.com/roster.html| archive-date=July 19, 2012| url-status=dead}}

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs2 = Long Island Fury

| youthyears2 = 2010–2012

| collegeyears1 = 2012–2015

| college1 = Notre Dame Fighting Irish

| collegecaps1 = 75

| collegegoals1 = 13

| years1 = 2012

| clubs1 = New York Fury

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2016–2017

| clubs2 = Houston Dash

| caps2 = 33

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2018–2021

| clubs3 = North Carolina Courage

| caps3 = 41

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2022

| clubs4 = Angel City

| caps4 = 21

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2023–

| clubs5 = Chicago Stars

| caps5 = 12

| goals5 = 1

| nationalteam1 = United States U15

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalteam2 = United States U17

| nationalyears2 =

| nationalcaps2 =

| nationalgoals2 =

| nationalteam3 = United States U18

| nationalyears3 =

| nationalcaps3 =

| nationalgoals3 =

| nationalteam4 = United States U20

| nationalyears4 = 2012–2014

| nationalcaps4 = 14

| nationalgoals4 = 1

| nationalteam5 = United States U23

| nationalyears5 = 2015

| nationalcaps5 =

| nationalgoals5 =

| club-update = July 22, 2018

| nationalteam-update = September 18, 2012

}}

Cari Elizabeth Onwualu ({{Nee|Roccaro}}; born July 18, 1994) is an American professional soccer midfielder for the Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for the Houston Dash, North Carolina Courage, and Angel City FC in the NWSL.

Raised in East Islip, New York, Roccaro played for the Long Island Fury and New York Fury while in high school. She represented the United States at youth international level, helping win the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Tokyo. She played college soccer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before being drafted by the Dash in 2016. During her stint with the Courage, the team won consecutive NWSL Shields and Championships in 2018 and 2019.

Early life

Roccaro attended East Islip High School in Islip Terrace, New York, where she played for the Redmen. During her senior year, she scored 11 goals with an 11–3–1 record. She was named a First Team ESPNHS All-American, a two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was Long Island Player of the Year.{{cite web|title=New York Girls Soccer POY: Cari Roccaro|date=February 9, 2012 |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/high-school/player-of-the-year/post/_/id/5732/new-york-girls-soccer-poy-cari-roccaro|publisher=ESPN|access-date=February 24, 2013}}{{Cite web| url=http://www.nyfurysoccer.com/players/roccaro.htm| title=Cari Rocarro| publisher=New York Fury| access-date=July 15, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305193650/http://www.nyfurysoccer.com/players/roccaro.htm| archive-date=March 5, 2014| url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Cari Roccaro, prized for her versatility|date=March 2, 2012 |url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/45853/cari-roccaro-prized-for-her-versatility.html|publisher=Soccer America|accessdate=February 24, 2013}}

Roccaro led the Redmen as team captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior. She was named All-League, All-Conference, and All-County as a freshman, junior, and senior and Team MVP as a freshman and senior. A highly decorated player, she was named NSCAA All-American as a junior and senior and Parade All-American as a junior. She was also named New York Gatorade Player of the Year, Long Island Player of the Year, and New York State Player of the Year as a senior.

Roccaro played for local club team, Albertson Fury and was a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region I Team from 2007 to 2010 as well as the Eastern New York state Olympic Development Program (ODP) squad from 2005 to 2010.{{cite web|title=Cari Roccaro player profile|url=http://www.und.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/roccaro_cari00.html|publisher=University of Notre Dame|accessdate=February 24, 2013}}

=New York Fury=

While still in high school, Roccaro played for Long Island Fury in Women's Premier Soccer League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States. She joined the club New York Fury, in the new WPSL Elite which was created after the folding of Women's Professional Soccer in early 2012.{{Cite web| url=http://www.soccernation.com/new-york-fury-add-to-wpsl-elite-roster-cms-2738| title=New York Fury Add Lenczyk, Roccaro and Yokers to WPSL Elite League Roster| website=Soccer Nation| access-date=July 15, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809202242/http://www.soccernation.com/new-york-fury-add-to-wpsl-elite-roster-cms-2738| archive-date=August 9, 2012| url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=NY Fury signs Lenczyk, Roccaro, Yokers|url=http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/leagues/wpsl2.php?article_id=30257|website=Big Apple Soccer|accessdate=February 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204173708/http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/leagues/wpsl2.php?article_id=30257|archive-date=December 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}

=University of Notre Dame=

Roccaro attended the University of Notre Dame where she played as a defender for the Fighting Irish. In January 2013, she was named Soccer America's Women's Freshman of the Year after leading Notre Dame to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Tournament.{{cite web|title=Notre Dame's Roccaro is Women's Freshman of the Year|date=January 15, 2013 |url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/49964/notre-dames-roccaro-is-womens-freshman-of-the-ye.html|publisher=Soccer America|accessdate=February 24, 2013}} She was also named Big East Conference Rookie of the Year{{cite web|title=Big East Honors: Roccaro named Rookie of the Year|url=http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/college/college2.php?article_id=32093|publisher=Big Apple Soccer|accessdate=February 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214846/http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/college/college2.php?article_id=32093|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Club career

=Houston Dash, 2016–2017=

Roccaro was selected by the Houston Dash with the 5th overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft. Over two seasons with the Dash, she made 33 appearances.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Dash-s-Cari-Roccaro-embraces-role-as-versatile-11087382.php|title=Dash's Cari Roccaro embraces role as versatile contributor|first=Corey|last=Roepken|date=April 20, 2017|website=Chron}} On March 19, 2018, she was waived by the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.dynamotheory.com/2018/3/19/17141124/houston-dash-release-2018-roster|title=Houston Dash Release 2018 Roster|accessdate=July 20, 2018|date=March 19, 2018}}

=North Carolina Courage, 2018–2021=

She signed with North Carolina Courage on April 12, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nccourage.com/news_article/show/906902-nc-courage-welcome-defender-cari-roccaro-to-2018-roster-sign-midfielder-sarah-teegarden-as-national-team-replacement-player|title=NC Courage Welcome Defender Cari Roccaro to 2018 Roster, Sign Midfielder Sarah Teegarden as National Team Replacement Player|date=April 12, 2018|publisher=North Carolina Courage|access-date=June 19, 2021|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206212043/https://www.nccourage.com/news_article/show/906902-nc-courage-welcome-defender-cari-roccaro-to-2018-roster-sign-midfielder-sarah-teegarden-as-national-team-replacement-player|url-status=dead}} She made two appearances for the club during the 2018 season. North Carolina won the 2018 NWSL Shield & NWSL Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwslsoccer.com/game/north-carolina-courage-vs-portland-thorns-2018-09-22|title=Courage cap off record-setting season with NWSL Championship win|accessdate=September 24, 2018|date=September 21, 2018|archive-date=February 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201213659/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/game/north-carolina-courage-vs-portland-thorns-2018-09-22|url-status=dead}}

= Angel City, 2022 =

In December 2021, the North Carolina Courage traded Roccaro's rights to Los Angeles-based Angel City Football Club (ACFC) in exchange for roster protection in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft.{{Cite web |title=North Carolina Courage Announce Preseason Roster |url=https://www.nccourage.com/newstag/news/|date=March 2, 2022 |access-date=2022-04-17 |publisher=NC Courage }} In January, 2022, ACFC announced that Rocarro had been signed to a two-year contract.{{Cite web |title=Angel City Football Club Officially signs Mccaskill, Roccaro, Lussi, Isenhour |url=https://www.angelcity.com/news/article/angel-city-football-club-officially-signs-mccaskill-roccaro-lussi-isenhour |access-date=2022-04-17 |publisher=Angel City |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511075119/https://www.angelcity.com/news/article/angel-city-football-club-officially-signs-mccaskill-roccaro-lussi-isenhour |url-status=dead }} Roccaro had four goals and one assist during the 2022 season.

= Chicago Stars, 2023–present =

On January 24, 2023, Angel City traded Roccaro to the Chicago Red Stars (later renamed Chicago Stars FC) in exchange for $65,000 in allocation money.{{Cite web |title=Angel City Trades Midfielder Cari Roccaro to Chicago |url=https://www.angelcity.com/news/article/angel-city-trades-midfielder-cari-roccaro-to-chicago |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Angel City}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-01-25 |title=Chicago Red Stars Acquire Cari Roccaro From Angel City FC |url=https://www.chicagoredstars.com/post/chicago-red-stars-aquire-cari-roccaro-from-angel-city-fc |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Chicago Red Stars |language=en |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126180850/https://www.chicagoredstars.com/post/chicago-red-stars-aquire-cari-roccaro-from-angel-city-fc |url-status=dead }}

International career

File:FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2012 Awards Ceremony 14.JPG

Roccaro has represented the United States as a member of the U-15, U-17, U-18 and U-20 national youth teams.{{Cite web| url=http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/U-20-WNT/R/Cari-Roccaro.aspx| title=Cari Roccaro| publisher=US Soccer| access-date=July 13, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712125721/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/U-20-WNT/R/Cari-Roccaro.aspx| archive-date=July 12, 2012| url-status=dead}} In March 2010, she scored her first international goal in a qualifier match against Haiti during the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. She also played and scored goals for the US during the 2010 CONCACAF Under-17 Women's Championship and 2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship.

Roccaro was a member of the United States U-20 squad, which won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan.{{Cite web| url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=357590/index.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822141809/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=357590/index.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 22, 2012| title=FIFA Player Statistics: Cari ROCCARO| publisher=FIFA}} She played two matches in the group stage; and played in all three matches in the knock-out stage.{{cite web|title=LIJSL Alumni Crystal Dunn and Cari Roccaro help win USWNT U-20 World Cup|url=http://www.soccerlimagazine.com/content/lijsl-alumni-crystal-dunn-and-cari-roccaro-help-win-uswnt-u-20-world-cup|work=Soccer Long Island Magazine|author=Randy Vogt|date=September 19, 2012|accessdate=February 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328232657/http://www.soccerlimagazine.com/content/lijsl-alumni-crystal-dunn-and-cari-roccaro-help-win-uswnt-u-20-world-cup|archive-date=March 28, 2014|url-status=dead}}
- {{cite news|title=U.S. Women's Soccer Wins U20 World Cup, Defeating Germany, 1–0, In Final (VIDEO)|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/08/us-womens-soccer-u20-world-cup-highlights_n_1866964.html|website=Huffington Post|accessdate=February 24, 2013|date=September 8, 2012}}
- {{cite news|title=Another Title for U.S. Women|url=http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/08/another-title-for-u-s-women/|work=New York Times|accessdate=February 24, 2013|first=Jack|last=Bell|date=September 8, 2012|url-access=subscription}}

Roccaro captained the United States under-20 women's national soccer team that competed at 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Canada. She played all 360 minutes of the four matches played by the team, which was eliminated in the quarter-final.

Honors

=International=

CONCACAF U20 Women's Championship: 2012, 2014
FIFA U20 Women's World Cup: 2012{{Cite web|url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/12/00/u20-wnt-crowned-2012-fifa-world-cup-champions|title=U-20 WNT Crowned 2012 FIFA World Cup Champions|publisher=US Soccer|date=September 8, 2012|accessdate=May 21, 2018}}

=Club=

North Carolina Courage

NWSL Champions: 2018, 2019
NWSL Shield: 2018, 2019

References

External links

{{FIFA player|357590}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130313050621/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/U-20-WNT/R/Cari-Roccaro.aspx US Soccer player profile]
[http://www.und.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/roccaro_cari00.html Notre Dame player profile]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510045426/http://wpsl.info/team/indexr.php?tid=131 Cari Roccaro's New York Fury statistics]
{{Twitter}}
{{soccerway|cari-roccaro/116211}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:American women's soccer players

Category:Women's Premier Soccer League Elite players

Category:New York Fury players

Category:Parade High School All-Americans (girls' soccer)

Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's soccer players

Category:People from East Islip, New York

Category:Soccer players from Islip (town), New York

Category:Women's association football defenders

Category:Houston Dash players

Category:National Women's Soccer League players