Brittany Kolmel

Brittany Nicole Kolmel (née Taylor; born September 18, 1987) is an American soccer defender. She was traded in 2018 to the Utah Royals FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), however she decided to take time off from her professional career.[3][4][5] She previously played for FC Kansas City and Western New York Flash in the NWSL, for Sky Blue FC in the WPS, and for the United States U-20 women's national soccer team.[6]

Brittany Kolmel
Taylor with Sky Blue FC in May 2010
Personal information
Full name Brittany Nicole Kolmel[1]
Birth name Brittany Nicole Taylor[2]
Date of birth (1987-09-18) September 18, 1987
Place of birth Campbell Hall, New York, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
North Rockland Lady Storm
Albertson Express
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Connecticut Huskies 87 (17)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Hudson Valley Quickstrike
Lady Blues		 9 (3)
2010–2011 Sky Blue FC 42 (2)
2012–2013 New York Fury 9 (1)
2013–2015 Western New York Flash 45 (5)
2016–2017 FC Kansas City 43 (0)
International career‡
2006–2007 United States U-20
2008 United States U-21
2010–2011 United States 2 (0)
Managerial career
2020–2022 Marist Red Foxes
Medal record
Women's association football
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 7, 2017
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 1, 2011

Early life

Born in Campbell Hall, New York, Taylor attended Washingtonville High School in Washingtonville, New York, where she was a four-year letterwinner and three-time Section 9 Player of the Year from 2002 to 2004. She was named All-American, Youth All-American and New York State Player of the Year during her senior year. She was named All-East Region 2, All-State and Times Herald-Record Player of the Year from 2002–2004 and Striker of the Year in 2003. Taylor set a school record for goals with 127 and goals in a single season at 36.

Taylor also played for club teams, North Rockland Lady Storm and Albertson Express. She was a member of the Region I Olympic Development Program (ODP) team and played for the Under-17 U.S. National team.[7]

University of Connecticut

Taylor left the University of Connecticut women's soccer team as one of the best players in program history. Taylor was a two-time All-American as a defender in 2007 and 2009 and was named Big East Defender of the Year both of those seasons. In 2006, Taylor was the only player to have scored twice against the University of North Carolina all season. Taylor missed the 2008 season after tearing the ACL and medial meniscus in her right knee while walking on her driveway.[8][9] Taylor returned in 2009 and was able to help lead the Huskies to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. She scored the match-winning goal in the second overtime of the Huskies' first round match-up against Boston University in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.[7] She was named First Team All-Big East in each of her four seasons at UConn.[2]

Playing career

Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues

Taylor began her professional career with the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues. She was named the USL W-League Defender of the Year and had her number retired by the club.[10] Taylor's older sister, Meghan, a former Binghamton University player, and younger sister, Janelle, a St. Bonaventure University player, also played for Quickstrike FC.[11]

Sky Blue FC

Taylor was selected during the first round (sixth overall) of the 2010 WPS Draft by Sky Blue FC. She was named a WPS All-Star in her first season for Sky Blue FC.

New York Fury

After the WPS suspended operations in 2012, Taylor joined the New York Fury in the WPSL Elite.[12]

Western New York Flash
Taylor with the Flash in 2013

In 2013, Taylor signed with the Western New York Flash for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League.[13] In 2013, she was named to the NWSL Best XI.[14] In the three years she played with the Western New York Flash she missed only three games. During her time with the Flash she recorded five goals and five assists.[15]

FC Kansas City

Taylor was traded from the Western New York Flash to FC Kansas City in November 2015 in exchange for Rebecca Moros.[16] In her first season with FC Kansas City she played in every minute in all 20 games.[17] On August 13, 2017, she played a full game against the Houston Dash and became the third player in the NWSL to reach 100 caps in the league. She also played the full game in each of her first 100 caps, totaling 9090 minutes in these appearances.[18]

Utah Royals FC

Taylor carried over to Utah Royals FC when FC Kansas City was sold in November 2017.[19] In 2018, she vacated her roster spot to take a break from professional soccer.[5]

International

Taylor represented the United States as a member of the U-20 team that took part in the Nordic Cup in the summer of 2006. She was the senior-most member to play for the national team at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil. Taylor led a defense which shut down Christine Sinclair and the Canadian team to win a silver medal.[20]

Coaching career

Kolmel was hired as women's soccer head coach at Marist College in June 2020.[21] Kolmel stepped down from her position with Marist in December 2022.[22]

Personal life

She and her husband, Jesse Kolmel, have a daughter named Maui Angelina-Maria and son, Keanu Anthony. [1]

References
  1. "Births". Times Herald-Record. February 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  2. "Brittany Taylor - Women's Soccer". University of Connecticut Athletics. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  3. "Utah Royals FC finalize preseason roster with acquisition of Norway international Elise Thomas and signing of DF Brittany Taylor Kolmel". Real Salt Lake. February 14, 2018.
  4. "Utah Royals 2018 Preseason Schedule and Roster". Utah Royals FC. February 15, 2018.
  5. "Utah Royals FC add Rachel Corsie to roster; Brittany Taylor Kolmel vacates roster spot". RSL Soapbox. March 19, 2018.
  6. "Flash Acquire Moros, International Spot from FCKC". Western New York Flash. November 9, 2015. The Western New York Flash has acquired defender Rebecca Moros from FC Kansas City, in a deal that sends the rights to defender Brittany Taylor to the defending league champions. In a separate deal, the Flash also received an international roster spot for the 2016 and 2017 seasons from Kansas City in exchange for forward Amanda Frisbie.
  7. "Brittany Taylor". University of Connecticut. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  8. Giase, Frank (January 16, 2010). "Newest Sky Blue FC member Brittany Taylor looking forward to putting versatility to good use". NJ.com. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  9. Rodriguez, Justin (June 11, 2008). "Injury could sideline Taylor for '08 season". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  10. "Quickstrike Lady Blues To Retire Brittany Taylor's Number". boxscorenews.com. July 14, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  11. Rodriguez, Justin (May 16, 2009). "Taylor sisters set for pro-am soccer debut with Lady Blues". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  12. "High-scoring Adriana, Taylor & Zerboni among free agents added by Western New York Flash". Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  13. Kassouf, Jeff (February 2013). "Report: WNY Flash reveal five free agents". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  14. "NWSL Announces 2013 Best XI". OurSports Central. August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  15. "Defender Brittany Taylor signs with FC Kansas City". The Kansas City Star. November 12, 2015.
  16. "FC KANSAS CITY ACQUIRE DEFENDERS BRITTANY TAYLOR AND AMANDA FRISBIE FROM WNY FLASH". FC Kansas City. November 9, 2015.
  17. "#13 BRITTANY TAYLOR". FC Kansas City. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  18. "9,090 Minutes". FC Kansas City. August 18, 2017.
  19. Torres, Maria (November 16, 2017). "Announcement of new team in Salt Lake means women's pro soccer is likely done in KC". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  20. Hays, Graham (August 24, 2007). "Hays: UConn's dynamic duo gain international experience". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  21. McMillan, Ken (June 30, 2020). "Marist hires Kolmel as coach". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  22. "Kolmel Steps Down As Head Women's Soccer Coach". GoRedFoxes.com. Marist Red Foxes. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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