Christie Welsh, when she was with the U.S. national team in 2015. (Scott Bales/YCJ Photo)

NEW YORK — Former U.S. international striker Christie Welsh has joined the New York Surf Soccer Club as the assistant technical director and Academy coach.

A native of Masspaequa, N.Y. and a member of the 1997 national youth championship team, the Northport/Cow Harbor Piranhas, Welsh won the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy while starring at Penn State. She also won a New York State championship with Massapequa High School in 1997.

“We are honored and humbled to have Christie join New York Surf,” Surf president Matt Popoli said in a statement. “Her distinguished career has included incredible accomplishments and she is a true standout in U.S. women’s soccer. Christie is one of the best female soccer players to have ever come out of Long Island and NY Surf is excited to be bringing her back to help develop the next generation of top players in New York. Christie is one of our region’s most coveted up and coming coaches and adding her to our coaching leadership is another important milestone to building a ‘player development first’ soccer leadership team that is unmatched in our region.”

Welsh was one of the most decorated players in Penn State and Big Ten history.

As a coach, Welsh served as an assistant coach in three USSF national camps with the Under-14 Girls national team, U-15 girls national team. She has coached collegiately at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia (2012 –2013) and at the University of Oregon (2013–2015). Welsh began her coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Penn State (2004–06). She also worked as a volunteer assistant at Wisconsin in 2011. Welsh has also coached extensively at the youth club level working with boys and girls of all ages.

“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to join such a great group of coaches at NY Surf and give back to the New York soccer community that has done so much for my life and career,” Welsh said in a statement. “My focus as a coach has always been on player development and working with the community, which I will continue to do in my new roles at NY Surf.”

A member of the national team from 2000-2008, Welsh tallied 20 goals over 39 international matches.

She was selected second overall in the 2003 Women’s United Soccer Association draft by the New York Power. Welsh wenton to play internationally for KIF Orebro of Sweden’s Top Division in 2004 and Olympique Lyonnaise of the French First Division in 2005. Welsh also helped the Washington Freedom to the 2005 W-League championship, and the New Jersey Wildcats to the 2007 title, garnering MVP honors along the way. Most recently, she has played in the Women’s Professional Soccer League, competing for the LA Sol and St. Louis Athletica in 2009 and the Washington Freedom in 2010.

The Surf performs in United Women’s Soccer.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.