Emerson Elgin
.jpg) Elgin with Gotham FC in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Emerson Mackenzie Elgin[1] | ||
| Date of birth | March 21, 2003 | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Tampa Bay Sun (on loan from Boston Legacy) | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 73 | (1) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024 | North Carolina Courage U23 | 5 | (2) |
| 2025 | Gotham FC | 0 | (0) |
| 2025– | Boston Legacy | 0 | (0) |
| 2025– | → Tampa Bay Sun (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of July 17, 2025 | |||
Emerson Mackenzie Elgin (born March 21, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder or defender for USL Super League club Tampa Bay Sun, on loan from Boston Legacy FC. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels and helped the team win the 2024 national championship.
Early life
Elgin grew up in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, the daughter of Johanna and Ernest Elgin, and has three older brothers. She played soccer at a young age in the footsteps of her brothers, two of whom played at the college level.[1][2] She attended Ramapo High School, earning all-state honors in her only season on the soccer team.[1] She played club soccer for Players Development Academy before moving to STA Soccer, where she was team captain.[1][2] She committed to North Carolina as a freshman.[2]
College career
Elgin entered her freshman season with North Carolina Tar Heels as a starter but tore her quadriceps in the second game of the season, ruling her out for the rest of the year.[3] She returned the next year to make 23 appearances (7 starts) in 2022, starting the last five rounds of the NCAA tournament, where North Carolina finished runners-up to UCLA. In 2023, she recorded 3 assists in 22 games (21 starts), including the winning assist to Ally Sentnor in the NCAA tournament second round as North Carolina reached the quarterfinals.[1] She was the only starter to return to the team in 2024, when she played in 26 games (25 starts) and scored 1 goal with 1 assist.[1][4] She played every minute of the NCAA tournament after the first round, helping her team concede just once in six games. North Carolina defeated Wake Forest 1–0 in the final to win its 23rd national title and first since 2012.[1][5]
During college, Elgin also played for the 2024 USL W League champion North Carolina Courage U23, scoring two goals in five games.[6]
Club career
After college, Elgin trained with the North Carolina Courage and Gotham FC as a non-roster trialist in the 2025 preseason.[7][8] On April 12, 2025, Gotham FC announced that the club had signed Elgin to her first professional, a short-term injury replacement contract.[9] She did not make a competitive appearance before the contract expired in June.[10]
On July 17, 2025, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)'s Boston Legacy announced that the expansion team had signed Elgin through the 2027 season. Before the team began play in 2026, she would join USL Super League club Tampa Bay Sun on loan for the rest of the calendar year.[11]
International career
Elgin was invited to virtual training with the United States national under-19 team during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.[12]
Honors and awards
Gotham FC
North Carolina Courage U23
North Carolina Tar Heels
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Emerson Elgin". North Carolina Tar Heels. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ a b c Tartaglia, Greg (June 21, 2018). "New Jersey freshman in 'nirvana' after recruitment to UNC women's soccer team". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ TCT Network (February 26, 2025). "Playing 4 Purpose | Emerson Elgin". YouTube. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Olorunfemi, Victor (December 4, 2024). "UNC's Path to Women's College Cup". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ Koh, Michael (December 9, 2024). "UNC Women's Soccer Beats Wake Forest to Win 23rd National Championship". Chapelboro.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ "NC Courage U23 Pre-Professional". USL W League. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ "NC Courage Announces Preseason Roster". North Carolina Courage. January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "Gotham FC Adds Nine Players for Preseason Training". Gotham FC. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Gotham FC Signs Betos, Elgin as Injury Replacement Players". Gotham FC. April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ "Gotham FC Announces Roster Updates Ahead of Free Agency Window". Gotham FC. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ Bird, Hayden (July 17, 2025). "Boston Legacy FC announce pair of signings as roster continues to take shape". Boston.com. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ Cooper, Darren (April 30, 2021). "Soccer: Ramapo senior Emerson Elgin selected to national team pool". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ "Tigres UANL vs. Gotham FC 0 - 1". Soccerway. May 24, 2025.