WASHINGTON – Former Georgetown women's soccer player Emily Menges (C'14) will look for her second straight National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Championship title on Saturday as a defender for the Portland Thorns FC. Menges played for the Hoyas from 2010-13 and graduated as one of the most decorated players in program history.
Menges was drafted by Portland after graduating in 2014. In her five professional seasons, Menges was a 2016 NWSL Best XI honoree and a 2017 NWSL Second XI selection. She appeared and started in 15 games this season, including all 90 minutes in last weekend's victory over league rival Seattle Reign in the semifinals. In 2017, the defender started 23 matches and played all 180 minutes of Portland's run to the championship. In 2016, Menges had a breakout season, being selected as the Supporters' Player of the Year and Team MVP. She was also called into a U.S. Women's National Team camp in November, 2016.
The Garden City, New York native stopped by Shaw Field to practice with the Thorns as they were preparing for a match against the Washington Spirit, and caught up with old coaches and teammates.
GUHoyas: How is playing professionally different from playing college soccer at Georgetown?
Emily Menges: Dave (Nolan) set me up pretty well while playing for him in college. Playing professionally, though, is way more focused off the field. While in college, you're trying to balance school and life and everything else. Now professionally, they're expecting you to focus your off-time on your eating or sleeping. Everything is focused on soccer. I have a job in the hospitality industry, and they've been great to me. They let me work part-time during the soccer season and full-time out of season. They know that I play professional soccer and they work around my schedule.
GUHoyas: Since graduating from Georgetown, where has your professional career in soccer taken you?
EM: When I was here at Georgetown, my current coach for the Thorns, Mark (Parsons), was coaching at Washington Spirit, and so Dave talked a little bit to Mark about me going out to practices, so I scheduled my senior year classes in the afternoon so that I could go to practices in the morning with the Spirit. Then Paul Riley, who was the coach on Long Island and I also knew him growing up, became the coach at Portland, so then he drafted me out there. I went out to Portland after graduation and then Mark ended up becoming the head coach and I've been there ever since.
GUHoyas: What are some cool things you have gotten to experience and enjoy while playing professionally?
EM: Just playing against and with some of the best players in the world is amazing. I love being able to meet people from all over the world.
GUHoyas: What is one of your fondest memories at Georgetown?
EM: Maybe making it to the Elite Eight my freshman year when we didn't think we would get there. It was amazing and such a great way to start out my whole career. I just love Shaw Field so much and my friendships with my teammates. They mean so much to me and I'm still friends with them today.
At Georgetown, Menges was a First Team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in 2013. In addition, she was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection and the league's Defensive Player of the Year. She was the 25th overall selection and the seventh pick of the third round by the Thorns in the 2014 draft.
A two-time semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, she was also a 2012 First Team All-BIG EAST selection when the team set a school record with 13 shutouts. As a freshman in 2011, Menges started all 24 games and helped lead the team to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. She was an All-BIG EAST Rookie selection that season. In her four-year career, Menges started 83 of 84 games played, scored two goals and was part of defensive units that posted 40 shutouts.
The Portland Thorns will play in the NWSL Championship match on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon at 4:30 p.m.
