Meagan McClelland Signed by Chicago Red Stars of NWSL

CHICAGO – Rutgers goalkeeper Meagan McClelland has signed a contract with the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The Scarlet Knight graduate officially begins her professional career after accepting a training camp invitation from the Red Stars earlier this spring, continuing a growing tradition of Rutgers women’s soccer graduates playing at the next level.

McClelland joins fellow graduates Amirah Ali, Kristen Edmonds, Casey Murphy, Madison Pogarch, Gabby Provenzano, and Frankie Tagliaferri on active NWSL rosters in 2023.

 

Following another tradition of elite goalkeeping at Rutgers women’s soccer, McClelland departed “the Banks” with legendary statistics and honors throughout a five-year career minding the net for the Scarlet Knights. The Kearny, New Jersey native left college second all-time in NCAA history with 9,482 goalkeeper minutes, from which she recorded 43 solo shutouts, 49 team shutouts, a 0.69 goals-against average and an .801 save percentage.

 

The 2018 Big Ten Rookie of the Year went on to play in 102 games with 101 starts in net, picking up four All-Big Ten honors and three United Soccer Coaches All-Region awards along the way. McClelland led the 2021 Scarlet Knights to a perfect 10-0 record in Big Ten play en route to the school’s first Big Ten championship before a run to the program’s second College Cup. On the way to the Final Four, the goalkeeper both stopped and converted penalty kicks in back-to-back matches in the third round and quarterfinals at Yurcak Field with Rutgers as the No. 1 seed.

 

Earning a master’s in digital marketing during her fifth year, McClelland also piled up classroom accolades with a 2021 Scholar All-Region nod, four Academic All-Big Ten honors, and an induction to Chi Alpha Sigma, the student-athlete honor society.

Chicago takes on the Mexican National Team on Saturday, April 8 in a Mextour W exhibition before continuing NWSL play at home against KC Current on Sat., April 15 at 7 p.m. CT.

Stay up to date on the latest news and schedule updates by following Rutgers women’s soccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.

-RU-