Kristen Edmonds: “Growing up in New Jersey playing soccer against some of the best youth talent and competition in the country helped shape me as a competitor and a person.” (Photo courtesy of NJ Youth Soccer)
New Jersey Youth Soccer will host its 2023 NJYS Annual Awards Dinner Friday as NJ/NY Gotham FC defender and New Jersey native Kristen Edmonds will be the keynote speaker.
“I am honored to be the keynote speaker for this year’s Annual Awards Dinner,” Edmonds said in a statement. “Growing up in New Jersey playing soccer against some of the best youth talent and competition in the country helped shape me as a competitor and a person.”
Signed as a free agent by Gotham FC in December, Edmonds started 44 games over the last two seasons for the Kansas City Current, including all three playoff matches in the team’s run to the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League final. During the 2021 season, Edmonds led the team in starts (21) and minutes (1,721) while serving as captain for six matches.
Prior to Kansas City, Edmonds played five seasons for the Orlando Pride, scoring 10 goals in 72 appearances. In her first season, she led Orlando in scoring and assists. Edmonds started her NWSL career with the Western New York Flash, making 29 starts in 31 matches over two seasons.
Edmonds starred at Rutgers University from 2005-08, where she became the first rookie to lead the Scarlet Knights in scoring since NJYS Hall of Famer and two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd. As a senior, she started all 22 games, scoring five goals and adding six assists.
Speaking of the excitement of delivering the keynote, Edmonds noted, “To be able to inspire young athletes to achieve higher aspirations keeps me motivated to compete at a high level, and I am also humbled to be able to share my experiences with the players whose shoes I was once in.”
Gotham FC teammates Victoria Pickett and Yazmeen Ryan will serve as the hosts for red carpet interviews at the dinner.
