Midge Purce Explained

Midge Purce
Fullname:Margaret Melinda Williams-Purce[1]
Birth Date:18 September 1995[2]
Birth Place:Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Gotham FC
Clubnumber:23
Collegeyears1:2013–2016
College1:Harvard Crimson
Collegecaps1:69
Collegegoals1:42
Years1:2017
Clubs1:Boston Breakers
Caps1:22
Goals1:1
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Portland Thorns
Caps2:41
Goals2:8
Years3:2020–
Clubs3:Gotham FC[3]
Caps3:46
Goals3:16
Nationalyears1:2011–2012
Nationalteam1:United States U17
Nationalyears2:2013–2014
Nationalteam2:United States U20
Nationalyears3:2015–2018
Nationalteam3:United States U23
Nationalyears4:2019–
Nationalteam4:United States
Nationalcaps4:30
Nationalgoals4:4
Club-Update:March 24, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:March 10, 2024

Margaret Melinda "Midge" Williams-Purce (born September 18, 1995) is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women's national soccer team. She previously played for Portland Thorns FC and the Boston Breakers. A 2023 NWSL Champion and Championship MVP, she is known for her strength on the ball and her willingness to defend from the attack.

She was first selected to play for the United States at the under-17 level, appearing at the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She made her first appearance for the senior national team in 2019, following a strong season with the Thorns.

She played college soccer at Harvard University. In 2020, she was elected to a seat on the Board of Overseers of Harvard University with the support of Harvard Forward, an alumni climate activism group. She is an outspoken advocate for equal pay and is a co-founder and board member of the Black Women's Players Collective.

Early life

Purce is the daughter of James Purce, and has an older brother, JP Purce. She began playing soccer as a child, following in the footsteps of her brother.[4] She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School in Olney, Maryland, near her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland[5] where she was named Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012 and an NSCAA All-American in 2010 and 2011.

College career

Purce scored 42 goals in 69 appearances with the Harvard Crimson women's soccer team. She was named Ivy League Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016 and a first-team NSCAA All-American in 2016. She majored in psychology at Harvard[6] in pursuit of a career in law.[4]

Club career

Boston Breakers, 2017

After playing for Harvard, Purce was drafted by the Boston Breakers with the 9th pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft.[7] She appeared in 22 games for Boston and scored one goal.[8]

Portland Thorns FC, 2018–2019

After the Breakers folded in January 2018,[9] the league held a dispersal draft for the Breakers' players; Purce was selected with the 4th pick by the Portland Thorns.[10]

Purce made 21 appearances and 16 starts for the Thorns in 2018, playing primarily as a right fullback. During the 2019 NWSL season, Purce moved into wide and central forward positions, and at one point scored 5 goals in a span of 5 games.[4]

NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2020–present

Purce was traded to Sky Blue FC in 2020.[11] During the 2021 NWSL season Purce played as a forward and scored nine goals, leading the team.[12] She came in second in the NWSL Golden Boot race and was named to the NWSL Best XI in the 2021 NWSL Awards alongside teammates Caprice Dydasco and Kailen Sheridan.[13] Purce was also a finalist for 2021 NWSL MVP following a breakout season.[14]

In January 2022, Purce signed a two-year contract extension with NJ/NY Gotham FC.[15] Though sidelined through much of the 2023 NWSL season after tearing her quad, Purce was instrumental in Gotham FC's NWSL playoff run. She assisted both goals in Gotham FC's 1-2 Championship win over OL Reign and was named the Championship MVP.[16] While at Gotham FC, Purce has established a reputation as a strong dribbler and a dynamic, attacking player who's willing and able to take on defensive responsibilities.[17] She is in contract with Gotham FC through the 2024 season with an option to re-sign in 2025.[18]

International career

Youth USWNT (2011–2018)

Purce was called up to the United States women's national under-17, under-20, and under-23 teams. She played in the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, made 4 appearances and 3 starts in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup,[19] [20] and scored goals for the US U20s against France in a friendly[21] and against Mexico in the 2014 CONCACAF U20 Championship.[22]

Senior USWNT (2017–)

Purce received her first call-up to the United States women's national team for the 2017 Tournament of Nations but she did not appear in any of the three games.[23] She received another call-up in June 2018 for a pair of friendlies against China PR, but she sustained an ankle injury in training camp and was ruled out for the two friendlies.[24]

In November 2019, Purce received a call-up to Vlatko Andonovski's first training camp as the new USWNT head coach. After playing as a right-back and a forward during her professional career, she was called in as a defender. Purce played in her first match for the United States women's national team in their friendly against Costa Rica on November 10, 2019. She played the full 90 minutes of the game as right back, and had a cross deflected in for a Costa Rica own goal in the U.S. team's 6–0 victory.[25] Purce scored her first senior national team goal against Colombia on January 21, 2021.[26]

In November 2021, Purce was called up to her first senior national team camp as a forward.[27] She has appeared in 25 games for the national team, winning the 2021, 2022, and 2023 editions of the SheBelieves Cup as well as the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship with the United States. Following an injury in April 2023, Purce was not selected for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.[28]

Advocacy

Purce is currently serving a six-year term as a member of the Board of Overseers at Harvard University.[29] She was elected in 2020 with the support of Harvard Forward, an alumni climate activism group.[30] Purce co-founded and currently serves as a board member for the Black Women's Players Collective (BWPC), a nonprofit with the goal of advancing opportunities for black girls in sport and beyond.[31] [32] She was named to the 2023 Forbes 30 under 30 list in the Sports category for her work with the BWPC.[33]

On March 24, 2021, Purce made an appearance at the White House with USWNT teammate Megan Rapinoe to raise awareness of the importance of equal pay. In her remarks to introduce First Lady Jill Biden, Purce said, "You would never expect a flower to bloom without water, but women in sport who have been denied water, sunlight, and soil are somehow expected to blossom. Invest in women, then let's talk again when you see the return."[34]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCup[35] Playoffs[36] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Boston Breakers2017NWSL221221
Portland Thorns FC201819020210
201922810238
NJ/NY Gotham FC[37] 2020504[38] 191
202117942102211
202216351214
20231245130205
2024101020
Career total10925204704114030

International

National Team Year Apps Goals
United States201910
202010
202172
2022112
202360
20244 0
Total 30 4

Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Purce goal.

List of international goals scored by Midge Purce
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1Orlando, Florida6–06–0Friendly[39]
2Orlando, Florida3–04–0Friendly[40]
3Chester, Pennsylvania8–09–0Friendly[41]
4San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico3–03–02022 CONCACAF W Championship[42]

Honors and awards

NJ/NY Gotham FC

United States

Individual

June 2019,[49] August 2019[50]

2019 week 19,[51] 2021 week 1,[52] 2021 week 21[53]

2019 week 8[54]

2021[56]

References

Match reports

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 – List of Players: USA . . 16 . August 4, 2014 . June 23, 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140809083056/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FU20W/2014/pdf/FU20W_2014_SquadLists.pdf . August 9, 2014.
  2. Web site: Midge Purce . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 5 May 2024 . en.
  3. Sky Blue FC changed its name to NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2021
  4. Web site: Portland Thorns leading goal scorer Midge Purce craves even greater heights . July 3, 2019 . September 5, 2019 . Jamie . Goldberg . The Oregonian/OregonLive.
  5. Web site: Campaigning For Change: Midge Purce & Danielle Slaton . August 16, 2020 . www.ussoccer.com . en.
  6. Web site: Margaret Purce – Harvard . GoCrimson.com . September 6, 2019 . September 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190906103149/https://www.gocrimson.com/sports/wsoc/2016-17/bios/purce_margaret_piiu . dead.
  7. Web site: Boston Breakers . National Women's Soccer League . www.nwslsoccer.com . en . January 30, 2018.
  8. Web site: M.Purce . July 7, 2018 . July 6, 2018.
  9. Web site: NWSL announces Boston Breakers to cease operations . National Women's Soccer League . January 28, 2018 . www.nwslsoccer.com . en . January 30, 2018.
  10. Web site: With the fourth pick in today's dispersal draft, @ThornsFC select Margaret Purce. . NWSL . January 30, 2018 . @NWSL . en . January 30, 2018.
  11. Web site: Thorns acquire No. 1 pick in 2020 draft, Raquel Rodriguez; ship Sonnett to Orlando, Purce to Sky Blue – Equalizer Soccer . The Equalizer Staff . January 8, 2020 . en-US . January 9, 2020.
  12. Web site: FC . Gotham . January 20, 2022 . NJ/NY Gotham FC Brings Back Leading Scorer, Re-Signing Margaret Purce . March 4, 2022 . NJ/NY Gotham FC . en-us.
  13. Web site: National Women's Soccer League Official Site NWSL . 2022-03-04 . www.nwslsoccer.com.
  14. Web site: National Women's Soccer League Official Site NWSL . 2022-03-19 . www.nwslsoccer.com.
  15. Web site: February 24, 2022 . Midge Purce: "Powered by Football" star talks 2022 ambitions . February 25, 2022 . Her Football Hub . en-GB.
  16. Web site: Yang . Steph . Gotham FC earned the NWSL title, and Midge Purce owned the night . December 4, 2023 . The Athletic . en.
  17. Web site: November 2, 2023 . From 'mess' to NWSL Championship contender: how Gotham FC's nightmare ended . December 4, 2023 . ESPN.com . en.
  18. Web site: FC . Gotham . March 6, 2023 . Midge Purce Signs New Multi-Year Contract with Gotham FC . December 4, 2023 . NJ/NY Gotham FC . en-us.
  19. News: Five locals selected to national team for U20 Women's World Cup . Washington Post . Chelsea . James . July 21, 2014 . September 5, 2019.
  20. Web site: Purce '17 Named to United States U-23 Training Camp . GoCrimson.com . January 3, 2018 . September 5, 2019 . September 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190906012517/https://www.gocrimson.com/sports/wsoc/2017-18/releases/20180103k7n5om . dead.
  21. Web site: Mallory Pugh collects assist for U.S. U-20 in soccer game vs. France . June 16, 2014 . The Denver Post . Joe . Nguyen . September 5, 2019.
  22. Web site: USA beat Mexico again: Under-20 women's side down El Tri 4–0 for 2014 CONCACAF title . January 19, 2014 . MLSsoccer.com . Simon . Borg . September 5, 2019.
  23. Web site: TALENTED RETURNEES HIGHLIGHT 24-PLAYER WNT ROSTER FOR CHINA PR FRIENDLIES . June 20, 2018 . May 29, 2018.
  24. Web site: WNT DEFENDER MARGARET PURCE RULED OUT OF CHINA PR FRIENDLIES . July 7, 2018 . June 5, 2018.
  25. Web site: U.S. SOCCER USWNT defenders Midge Purce, Alana Cook make the most of international debuts . prosoccerUSA.com . November 11, 2019 . November 11, 2019 . December 19, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191219225130/https://www.prosoccerusa.com/us-soccer/uswnt-defenders-midge-purce-alana-cook-make-the-most-of-international-debuts/ . dead.
  26. Web site: Macario and Purce open USWNT accounts while Mewis injury scare sours routine Colombia win Goal.com . 2022-03-19 . www.goal.com.
  27. Web site: FC . Gotham . November 9, 2021 . Margaret Purce Named to U.S. Women's National Team Roster for Friendlies Against Australia . March 4, 2022 . NJ/NY Gotham FC . en-us.
  28. Web site: Midge Purce reveals quad tear after return to field for Gotham FC . December 4, 2023 . Just Women's Sports . June 26, 2023 . en-US.
  29. Web site: Margaret Purce '17: Prolific Goal Setter, Scorer, and Achiever Sports The Harvard Crimson . 2022-03-04 . www.thecrimson.com.
  30. Rosenberg . John S. . August 21, 2020 . Insurgent Election . . August 21, 2020.
  31. Web site: Yang . Steph . NWSL's Black Women's Player Collective seeks forward progress after a 'heavy' few weeks . March 4, 2022 . The Athletic . en.
  32. Web site: The Black Women's Player Collective . March 4, 2022 . The Black Women's Player Collective . en-US.
  33. Web site: Midge Purce . December 4, 2023 . Forbes . en.
  34. Web site: USWNT players Megan Rapinoe, Margaret Purce speak at White House on equal pay: 'So much real work to be done' . March 4, 2022 . CBSSports.com . March 24, 2021 . en.
  35. Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  36. Includes NWSL Playoffs
  37. Sky Blue FC changed its name to NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2021
  38. [2020 National Women's Soccer League season#Fall Series|NWSL Fall Series]
  39. Web site: Megan Rapinoe Bags a Brace as U.S. Women's National Team Tops Colombia 6–0 to Close Out Two-Game Set in Orlando . January 22, 2021 . U.S. Soccer.
  40. Web site: U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TOPS JAMAICA 4–0 IN SECOND MATCH OF 2021 WNT SUMMER SERIES, PRESENTED BY AT&T 5G . June 23, 2021 . U.S. Soccer.
  41. Web site: U.S. Women's National Team Defeats Uzbekistan 9–0 as Catarina Macario and Rose Lavelle Score Twice Each . April 12, 2022 . U.S. Soccer.
  42. Web site: U.S. Women's National Team Open 2022 CONCACAF W Championship With 2–0[sic] Win Over Haiti ]. July 4, 2022 . U.S. Soccer.
  43. Web site: November 11, 2023 . NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers . November 12, 2022 . USA Today . en-US.
  44. News: Das . Andrew . July 19, 2022 . U.S. Women Beat Canada to Claim Spot in Paris Olympics . The New York Times .
  45. Web site: March 11, 2024 . Horan the hero as USA down Brazil to win W Gold Cup crown. March 11, 2024. CONCACAF.com.
  46. Web site: U.S. Women's National Team Rolls to Title at 2021 SheBelieves Cup, Presented by Visa, With Dominant 6-0 Victory Against Argentina . February 25, 2021 . U.S. Soccer.
  47. Web site: U.S. Women's National Team Defeats Iceland 5-0 to Win Third Consecutive and Fifth Overall SheBelieves Cup Title, Presented by Visa . U.S. Soccer . February 23, 2022.
  48. Web site: Herrera . Sandra . February 22, 2023 . USWNT vs. Brazil score: USA win SheBelieves Cup with Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson dominating in attack . February 23, 2023 . CBS Sports .
  49. Web site: June Team of the Month . July 8, 2019 . September 5, 2019 . NWSLsoccer.com . Jacqueline . Purdy.
  50. Web site: Thorns FC's Menges, Sinclair and Purce named to NWSL Team of the Month for August 2019 . September 5, 2019 . September 5, 2019 . Portland Timbers . NWSLsoccer.com Staff.
  51. Web site: Week 19 Player of the Week: Midge Purce, Portland Thorns FC . NWSLsoccer.com . Matthew . Levine . August 27, 2019 . September 5, 2019.
  52. National Women's Soccer League . National Women's Soccer League . NWSL . 1395092017777192961 . May 19, 2021 . Week 1 is @100Purcent The @GothamFC star takes home @budweiserusa Player of the Week honors #NWSL21 https://t.co/ExpUNNOdBk . en . May 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210520051419/https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1395092017777192961 . May 20, 2021 . live.
  53. Register . limited . nwsl . 1450937973319610371 . en.
  54. Web site: MIDGE PURCE, PORTLAND THORNS FC WEEK 8 GOAL OF THE WEEK. NWSLsoccer.com. June 4, 2019. September 5, 2019.
  55. Web site: Thorns FC announce 2019 Club Awards . December 18, 2019 . November 13, 2023.
  56. Web site: NWSL Announces the Winners of Mastercard Inaugural 2021 Best XI Awards . NWSLsoccer.com . November 17, 2021 . November 12, 2023.
  57. Web site: MVP Midge Purce Pitch Side With Darian Jenkins! . cbssports.com . November 11, 2023 . November 12, 2023.