American goalkeeper Hillary Beall is set to compete Down Under for the first time, completing a season-long loan move to Western United ahead of the 2022/23 Liberty A-League Women campaign.
Beall signs from Racing Louisville in America’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), where she has spent the last year.
After an impressive five years at the University of Michigan, Beall signed for Racing Louisville in February and will make the move to Melbourne’s West at the conclusion of the NWSL season in October.
Beall, who hails from Laguna Beach, California, accrued an 80% save percentage at Michigan and also went to the 2018 U-20 World Cup in France.
The 23-year-old said she is eager to take up a new opportunity in Australia and to show what she can do in another country.
“I am really excited to play for Western United FC. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go down there and play,” she said.
“I’m grateful that Racing is letting me go down there for a bit and get minutes as a professional.”
Western United Head Coach Mark Torcaso, a former goalkeeper and goalkeeper coach himself, believes his side will be in safe hands with Beall joining Alyssa Dall’Oste between the sticks.
“I’m really excited about bringing Hillary into the side, she has a lot of standout qualities as a goalkeeper and I can’t wait to work with her,” he said.
“She has great height and athleticism and has proven herself over a handful of years in college to be an excellent shot stopper.
“I’m looking forward to seeing her compete with Alyssa and I’m sure they will both get the best out of each other, which can only be good for the team.”
Beall will report for pre-season with Western United in October ahead of the A-League Women season’s commencement in mid-November.
