Julia Benati
{{short description|Canadian soccer player}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Julia Benati
| image = File:Julia Benati (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Benati accepting the L1O League Cup Championship trophy in 2024
| fullname = Julia Marie Benati
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|9|18}}
| birth_place = Dorchester, Ontario, Canada
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=2}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Ottawa Rapid
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = North London SC
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Dorchester SC
| youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = NorWest London
| collegeyears1 = 2014–2017| college1 = Buffalo Bulls | collegecaps1 = 76 | collegegoals1 = 18
| years1 = 2016–2022| clubs1 = FC London | caps1 = 68 | goals1 = 26
| years2 = 2022 | clubs2 = Medkila | caps2 = 8 | goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2023 | clubs3 = Valadares Gaia | caps3 = 11 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2023 | clubs4 = Valadares Gaia B | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2023–2024| clubs5 = FC London | caps5 = 26 | goals5 = 13
| years6 = 2025– | clubs6 = Ottawa Rapid | caps6 = 0 | goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1=
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1=
| medaltemplates=
| club-update = January 6, 2025
| ntupdate =
}}
Julia Marie Benati (born September 18, 1996) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Northern Super League club Ottawa Rapid FC.
Early life
Benati played youth soccer with North London SC, Dorchester SC, and NorWest London.{{Cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2014/2/13/2_13_2014_6466.aspx|title=Women's Soccer Reveals 2014 Recruiting Class|date=February 13, 2014|work=Buffalo Bulls}}
College career
In 2014, Benati began attending the University of Buffalo, where she played for the women's soccer team.{{cite web|url=https://londonsportsxpress.ca/norwest-breeding-success/|title=Nor’West breeding success|date=November 8, 2013|work=London Sports Xpress}} She scored her first goal in her debut on August 22, 2014, in a 1-0 victory over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies.{{cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2014/8/22/8_22_2014_6477.aspx|title=Women's Soccer Blanks Bonnies In Season Opening Victory, 1-0|date=August 22, 2014|work=Buffalo Bulls}} At the end of her first season, she was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team.{{cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2014/11/6/11_6_2014_6516.aspx|title=Women's Soccer Sweeps Major MAC Awards; Eight Earn All-Conference Honors|date=November 6, 2014|work=Buffalo Bulls}} At the end of her sophomore season, she was named to the All-MAC Second Team, earned Academic All-MAC honours and was named to the MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete list.{{cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/julia-benati/4086|title=Julia Benati Buffalo Bulls profile|work=Buffalo Bulls}}{{cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2015/11/5/11_5_2015_6575.aspx|title=Five Women's Soccer Players Earn All-MAC Accolades|date=November 5, 2015|work=Buffalo Bulls}} In 2016, she was once again named to the All-MAC Second Team and earned Academic All-MAC honours once again.{{cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2016/11/3/11_3_2016_6635.aspx|title=Women's Soccer Places Four On All-MAC Team|date=November 3, 2016|work=Buffalo Bulls}}{{Cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2016/11/17/11_17_2016_6636.aspx|title=Women's Soccer Sees Program Record Eight Student-Athletes Earn Academic All-MAC Honors|date=November 17, 2016|work=Buffalo Bulls}} At the end of her senior season, Benati was named to the All-MAC First Team,{{Cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2017/11/2/11_2_2017_6679.aspx|title=Women's Soccer Places Five On All-MAC Squads|date=November 2, 2017|work=Buffalo Bulls}} All-Midwest Region Third Team,{{Cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2017/11/29/11_29_2017_6682.aspx|title=Julia Benati Earns United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Midwest Region Nod|date=November 29, 2017|work=Buffalo Bulls}} Academic All-MAC,{{cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2017/11/16/11_16_2017_6681.aspx|title=Seven Bulls Earn Academic All-MAC Nod|date=November 16, 2017|work=Buffalo Bulls}} and Academic All-District.{{Cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2017/11/13/11_13_2017_6680.aspx|title=Cutrona And Benati Earn CoSIDA Academic All-District Nod|date=November 13, 2017|work=Buffalo Bulls}} She was became the first Buffalo women's soccer student-athlete to receive the NCAA postgraduate scholarship and was nominated for the 2018 NCAA Woman Of The Year.{{Cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2018/4/20/4_20_2018_6685.aspx|title=Julia Benati Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship|date=April 20, 2018|work=Buffalo Bulls}}{{cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2018/7/13/7_13_2018_6691.aspx|title=Julia Benati Named 2018 NCAA Woman Of The Year Nominee|date=July 13, 2018|work=Buffalo Bulls}}
Club career
In 2016, Benati began playing with FC London in League1 Ontario.{{Cite web|title=Benati, FC women off to fast start|url=https://www.gamedaylondon.com/stories/benati-fc-women-off-to-fast-start|work=Gameday London|first=Todd|last=Devlin|date=August 18, 2021}} In 2016, she was named to the mid-season league all-star team that played the PLSQ All-Star team{{cite web|url=https://londonsportsxpress.ca/18052/|title=Club thrilled with League1 debut|date=September 10, 2016|work=London Sports Xpress}} and was named a league Second Team All-Star at the end of the season.{{cite web|title=League1 Ontario Announces 2016 Women's First And Second Team All-Stars|url=http://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/723795|date=November 18, 2016|publisher=League1 Ontario|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420101944/http://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/723795|archive-date=April 20, 2021|url-status=dead}} In 2017, she was named a league Third Team All-Star.{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/855943|date=November 13, 2017|title=Standout Performers Recognized At League1 Ontario 2017 Awards Banquet|work=League1 Ontario|archive-date=October 17, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017155355/https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/855943}} In 2018, she was named a league First Team All-Star.{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/971590|date=November 26, 2018|title=Top 2018 Performers Recognized At Year-End Awards Gala|work=League1 Ontario|archive-date=December 9, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209092837/https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/971590}} In 2019, Benati was named the league's Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Star.{{cite web|archive-date=October 2, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002072755/https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1053595|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1053595|title=Stakic, Benati Selected As 2019 League1 Midfielders Of The Year|date=October 3, 2019|work=League1 Ontario}}{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1052839|title=Men's And Women's 2019 First, Second And Third Team All-Stars|date=September 30, 2019|work=League1 Ontario|archive-date=February 11, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211061202/https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1052839}} In 2021, she once again was named the league's Top Midfielder and a First Team All-Star.{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1199791|title=2021 L1O Women's Premier Division Awards: Twidle Earns MVP, FC London Dominate Again|first=Marty|last=Thompson|date=December 21, 2021|work=League1 Ontario}} In 2022, she became team captain and at the end of the season was named the league Most Valuable Player, Midfielder of the Year, and a First Team All-Star.{{Cite web|archive-date=February 26, 2024|url-status=dead|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1247696|title=Julia Benati and Olivia Smith highly commended as Women’s Premier Division 2022 awards are confirmed|date=November 15, 2022|work=League1 Ontario|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226082535/https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1247696}}{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1247890|title=Simcoe skipper Cloey Uddenberg at the heart of the 2022 Women’s Premier Division All-Star team|date=November 17, 2022|work=League1 Ontario|archive-date=February 9, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209092220/https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1247890}}
In August 2022, Benati signed with Norwegian club Medkila in the top tier 1. divisjon.{{cite web|url=https://ubbulls.com/news/2022/8/25/womens-soccer-former-bulls-carissima-cutrona-and-julia-benati-reunite-to-play-professionally-in-norway.aspx|title=Former Bulls Carissima Cutrona and Julia Benati Reunite To Play Professionally in Norway|date=August 25, 2022|work=Buffalo Bulls}}{{cite web|url=https://www-iharstad-no.translate.goog/her-er-jentene-som-kan-berge-medkila-vi-er-alle-angrepsspillere/s/5-126-183314?_x_tr_sl=no&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc|title=Her er jentene som kan redde Medkila: – Vi er alle angrepsspillere|trans-title=Here are the girls who can save Medkila: - We are all attacking players|language=no|date=September 10, 2022|work=iHardstad|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ht.no/sport/i/a7rKe5/ny-angrepsduoen-dro-rett-paa-medkila-trening|title=Ny angrepsduo dro rett på Medkila-trening|trans-title=New attacking duo went straight to Medkila training|language=no|date=August 25, 2022|work=Harstad Tidende|url-access=subscription}}
In January 2023, she signed with Portuguese club Valadares Gaia in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino.{{Cite web|url=https://lfpress.com/sports/local-sports/sports-notes-lightning-prep-for-tip-off-jr-knights-shine-benati-signs|title=Sports Notes: Lightning prep for tip-off; Jr. Knights shine: Benati signs|date=January 12, 2023|work=London Free Press|first=Ryan|last=Pyette}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ht.no/sport/i/0QLG82/gaar-fra-medkila-til-portugisisk-klubb|title=Går fra Medkila til portugisisk klubb|language=no|trans-title=Going from Medkila to Portuguese club|date=January 11, 2023|work=Harstad Tidende|url-access=subscription}}
In June 2023, she returned to FC London, with her arrival delayed while she had to wait for the Portuguese Football Federation to approve her contract termination with Gaia.{{cite web|url=https://lfpress.com/sports/local-sports/soccer-mvp-awaits-portuguese-pro-clubs-all-clear-before-rejoining-fc-london|title=Soccer MVP awaits Portuguese pro club's all-clear before rejoining FC London|date=June 1, 2023|work=London Free Press|first=Ryan|last=Pyette}} In 2024, she was again named the league Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Star.{{cite web|url=https://league1ontario.com/article/premier-division-stars-celebrated-in-2024-awards/|title=Premier Division stars celebrated in 2024 awards|date=November 1, 2024|work=League1 Ontario}}
In January 2025, Benati signed with Ottawa Rapid FC in the Northern Super League, becoming the club's first ever signing, ahead of their inaugural season.{{cite web|url=https://canadiansoccerdaily.com/2025/01/06/nsls-ottawa-rapid-fc-announce-ex-league1-ontario-midfielder-julia-benati-as-first-club-signing/|title=NSL’s Ottawa Rapid FC announce ex-League1 Ontario midfielder Julia Benati as first club signing|date=January 6, 2025|work=Canadian Soccer Daily}}
Personal life
Career statistics
{{updated|August 4, 2024}}
Honours
=Club=
=Individual=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Norwegian Football Federation link |3977434}}
- {{FPF club player |2132151}}
{{Ottawa Rapid FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benati, Julia}}
Category:Women's association football midfielders
Category:Canadian women's soccer players
Category:Valadares Gaia F.C. (women) players
Category:Medkila IL (women) players
Category:League1 Ontario (women) players
Category:Campeonato Nacional Feminino players