# Julia Benati

Julia Marie Benati (born September 18, 1996) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Northern Super League club Ottawa Rapid FC.

## Early life

Benati played youth soccer with North London SC, Dorchester SC, and NorWest London.

## College career

In 2014, Benati began attending the University of Buffalo, where she played for the women's soccer team. She scored her first goal in her debut on August 22, 2014, in a 1-0 victory over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. At the end of her first season, she was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team. At the end of her sophomore season, she was named to the All-MAC Second Team, earned Academic All-MAC honours and was named to the MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete list. In 2016, she was once again named to the All-MAC Second Team and earned Academic All-MAC honours once again. At the end of her senior season, Benati was named to the All-MAC First Team, All-Midwest Region Third Team, Academic All-MAC, and Academic All-District. She was became the first Buffalo women's soccer student-athlete to receive the NCAA postgraduate scholarship and was nominated for the 2018 NCAA Woman Of The Year.

## Club career

In 2016, Benati began playing with FC London in League1 Ontario. In 2016, she was named to the mid-season league all-star team that played the PLSQ All-Star team and was named a league Second Team All-Star at the end of the season. In 2017, she was named a league Third Team All-Star. In 2018, she was named a league First Team All-Star. In 2019, Benati was named the league's Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Star. In 2021, she once again was named the league's Top Midfielder and a First Team All-Star. In 2022, she became team captain and at the end of the season was named the league Most Valuable Player, Midfielder of the Year, and a First Team All-Star.
In August 2022, Benati signed with Norwegian club Medkila in the top tier 1. divisjon.
In January 2023, she signed with Portuguese club Valadares Gaia in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino.
In June 2023, she returned to FC London, with her arrival delayed while she had to wait for the Portuguese Football Federation to approve her contract termination with Gaia. In 2024, she was again named the league Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Star.
In January 2025, Benati signed with Ottawa Rapid FC in the Northern Super League, becoming the club's first ever signing, ahead of their inaugural season.

## Personal life

Benati is a licensed chiropractor.

## Career statistics

    As of August 4, 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Playoffs | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Domestic Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| FC London | 2016 | League1 Ontario | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | ? | ? | 10 | 4 |
| FC London | 2017 | League1 Ontario | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ? | ? | 8 | 1 |
| FC London | 2018 | League1 Ontario | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | ? | ? | 10 | 1 |
| FC London | 2019 | League1 Ontario | 13 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 5 |
| FC London | 2021 | League1 Ontario | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 3 |
| FC London | 2022 | League1 Ontario | 17 | 12 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 12 |
| FC London | Total | Total | 68 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 26 |
| Medkila | 2022 | 1. divisjon | 8 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 2 |
| Valadares Gaia | 2022–23 | Campeonato Nacional Feminino | 11 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Valadares Gaia B | 2022–23 | Campeonato Nacional II Divisão Feminino | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| FC London | 2023 | League1 Ontario | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 |
| FC London | 2024 | League1 Ontario | 17 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 21 | 15 |
| FC London | Total | Total | 26 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 17 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 115 | 42 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 126 | 46 |

## Honours
### Club

* FC London
** League Champions: 2016, 2017, 2019
** League Cup Champions: 2017, 2024

### Individual

* L1O MVP: 2022
* L1O Midfielder of the Year: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024
* L1O All-Star:
** First Team: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024
** Second Team: 2016
** Third Team: 2017