| Meredith Speck | |
| Fullname: | Meredith Madeline Speck[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1 February 1993 |
| Birth Place: | Rockville Centre, New York, United States |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | North Carolina Courage |
| Clubnumber: | 25 |
| Youthclubs1: | Albertson Fury |
| Youthyears1: | 2006–2013 |
| Collegeyears1: | 2011–2014 |
| Collegecaps1: | 56 |
| Collegegoals1: | 7 |
| Clubs1: | Västerås BK30 |
| Years1: | 2015 |
| Clubs2: | Western New York Flash |
| Years2: | 2016 |
| Caps2: | 6 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Clubs3: | North Carolina Courage |
| Years3: | 2017– |
| Caps3: | 89 |
| Goals3: | 7 |
| Club-Update: | October 5, 2024 |
Meredith Madeline Speck (born February 1, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She is the only active player for the Courage who was part of the club when they were the Western New York Flash. She has won three NWSL Championships, three NWSL Shields, and two NWSL Challenge Cups with the Flash / Courage.
Speck was raised in a soccer family in the Long Island village of Rockville Centre, New York. She was coached by both of her parents, and both of her older sisters played college soccer. She attended Sacred Heart Academy, which she helped to a New York state championship in 2008, and became captain of her school team in her senior year. She played ECNL club soccer for Albertson Fury, where she was coached by her future NWSL head coach Paul Riley.[2]
Speck played college soccer for the Yale Bulldogs, where she recorded 7 goals and 15 assists in 56 appearances from 2011 to 2014. She became team captain and was named to the Ivy League all-conference team three times.[3] During college, she was selected to the United States national under-23 team for a series of friendlies in Norway but did not play due to a collarbone injury.
After college, Speck was named to the 2015 preseason roster for NWSL club Portland Thorns.[4] She signed later in the year with Swedish club Västerås BK30.[5] [6]
Speck returned to the United States and joined NWSL club Western New York Flash in the 2016 preseason. The club announced her signing on April 23, and she later that day she played the full 90 minutes against the Chicago Red Stars.[7] [8] She was the first Yale Bulldog to play in the NWSL.[9] She started five of her six appearances during the season.[3] The Flash won the 2016 NWSL Championship in a penalty shootout over the Washington Spirit.[10]
Before the 2017 season, the Flash were sold to new ownership and moved to North Carolina, where they became the North Carolina Courage.[11] Speck appeared in four matches for the Courage as they won the NWSL Shield with league's best record, though they lost the championship game to the Portland Thorns.[12] [13]
Speck helped the Courage repeat as NWSL Shield winners in 2018, making 15 appearances.[14] She was an unused substitute in the playoffs as the Courage won the 2018 NWSL Championship in a rematch with the Portland Thorns.[15]
North Carolina won the Shield for a third time and defended the Championship in 2019.[16] Speck made eight appearances that season, all off the bench.[3]
Speck started five of seven appearances for the Courage in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and Fall Series.[3]
Speck started 11 of 22 appearances in all competitions in 2021.[3] She scored her first NWSL goal in a 1–0 regular-season win over NJ/NY Gotham FC on August 7.[17]
Speck started 12 of 17 games in all competitions in 2022. She appeared as a late substitute in the 2022 Challenge Cup final, which the Courage won against the Washington Spirit.[18] After the Challenge Cup, North Carolina head coach Sean Nahas said of Speck: "She's a massive glue piece for us ... She's a true pro, and I say that because for five years she never saw the field, but [she] never complained".[19] The Courage finished the season in seventh place, missing the playoffs for the first time.[20] After the season, Speck's contract was extended for two years.[21]
Speck became part of the Courage's regular lineup in 2023, starting 12 of 13 appearances in all competitions, before tearing her ACL in a game against Racing Louisville on June 24.[3] [22] The Courage went on to defend the Challenge Cup, defeating Racing Louisville in the final.[23] Before the next season, her contract was extended to keep her with the Courage through 2025.[24]
Speck returned from injury during a home win over the Utah Royals on May 17, 2024.[25] She contributed three assists in four games in the month of July, helping the Courage win their group in the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, and was named to the NWSL Team of the Month.[26]
Western New York Flash
2016
North Carolina Courage
2018, 2019
Speck previously dated her North Carolina Courage teammate Debinha.[29]