# Katelyn Rowland

Katelyn Morgan Rowland (born March 16, 1994) is an American former professional soccer player and current assistant coach who played as a goalkeeper for ten seasons in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Rowland played college soccer for the UCLA Bruins, winning the 2013 national championship, before being drafted by FC Kansas City in the second round of the 2015 NWSL College Draft. She won four NWSL Championships and three NWSL Shields during her career, including two Shields and one Championship as the starting goalkeeper for the North Carolina Courage in 2017 and 2018. She was also a member of the Western New York Flash, Newcastle Jets, Kansas City Current, and Bay FC.
Rowland represented the United States on various youth national teams including the under-20 and under-23 teams, appearing at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

## Early life

Born in Walnut Creek, California, Rowland attended Vacaville Christian High School where she played on the varsity basketball and volleyball teams and earned all-league honors in both sports. She played club soccer for San Juan and helped the team win a national championship in 2008. At the tournament, she was awarded the Golden Gloves Award. The same year, Top Drawer Soccer named her a "Player to Watch".

### UCLA Bruins, 2011–2014

Rowland attended the University of California, Los Angeles where she played for the UCLA Bruins women's soccer team from 2011 to 2014. As a freshman, she was the starting goalkeeper in 20 of 21 matches and finished the year with a 13–1–4 record. Rowland was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and ranked second in the Pac-12 in shutouts (10), shutouts per game (0.50) and goals against average (0.61). During her sophomore year, she led the Pac-12 in shutouts (11) and shutouts per game (0.55). Her 0.57 goals against average (GAA) ranked second in the Pac-12 conference and 13th across the nation. She finished the season with a 17–3 record, tallied 46 saves, and allowed 11 goals. She earned Pac-12 second-team all-conference and honorable mention all-academic team honors. As a junior in 2013, Rowland's goals against average (GAA) of 0.27 and her save percentage of .903 led goalkeepers across the country. Her 15 shutouts set a school record and her 22 wins tied the school record for wins in a season. Rowland ranked second on UCLA's career charts with 52 wins and 36 shutouts. She was named to Soccer America's MVP team and to the NSCAA All-Pacific Region first-team UCLA won the school's first NCAA Women's Soccer championship, the College Cup, in 2013.
As a senior, Rowland played every minute and set new school records for goals against average (GAA) with 0.245, consecutive shutouts (10) and consecutive shutout minutes (969). She set NCAA records for career shutouts (55) and single-season shutouts (19). As a goalkeeper, Rowland tallied two assists during consecutive games in the NCAA tournament. She finished her first year with the Bruins with a 21–1–2 record. She tallied 49 saves and allowed six goals (a school record). Rowland was named the Pac-12 Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.

## Club career
### FC Kansas City, 2015–2016

In January 2015, Rowland was selected by FC Kansas City as the 17th overall pick in second round of the 2015 NWSL College Draft. As a backup keeper to Nicole Barnhart, Rowland played three matches for the Blues and recorded a 1.33 goals against average (GAA). FC Kansas City won the 2015 NWSL Championship.

### Western New York Flash, 2016

Rowland was traded to the Western New York Flash in June 2016. Kansas City general manager, Huw Williams noted that the trade would provide Rowland with "an opportunity to compete for immediate playing time. It also provides us with more options in the strong 2017 college draft." Rowland made six appearances for the Flash. After finishing the regular season in fourth place with a 9–6–5 record, the team advanced to the playoffs where they defeated the Portland Thorns 4–3 in extra time. The Flash defeated the Washington Spirit in penalty kicks during the NWSL championship final to win their first NWSL title.

#### Newcastle Jets, 2016–2017

Rowland played on loan for the Newcastle Jets in the Australian W-League during the 2016–17 W-League season. She arrived at the Jets as an injury replacement for Kelsey Wys.

### North Carolina Courage, 2017–2021

In January 2017, it was announced that the Western New York Flash has been sold to the ownership group of the Carolina Railhawks. The team re-located to Cary, North Carolina and was renamed North Carolina Courage. Rowland was named to the 2017 NWSL Second XI and nominated for NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year.
In the 2018 NWSL season, Rowland started 18 games for North Carolina. She recorded 8 clean sheets, helping the Courage win their second straight NWSL Shield. In the play-offs, Rowland didn't play in the semi-final as she was recovering from a concussion, but returned to play in the NWSL Championship game. She recorded 3 saves, as the Courage defeated the Portland Thorns 3–0 to win the 2018 NWSL Championship.

### Kansas City Current, 2021-2022

On July 22, 2021, the Kansas City Current (then KC NWSL) acquired Rowland in a trade with the North Carolina Courage. Kansas City acquired Rowland and teammates Hailie Mace and Kristen Hamilton in exchange for Amy Rodriguez and $60,000 in allocation money.

### Return to North Carolina Courage, 2022–2023

After appearing in 4 games for the Current, Rowland was traded back to the North Carolina Courage along with $200,000 in allocation money and a first round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft in exchange for Lynn Williams.

### Bay FC, 2024

Bay FC announced Rowland's retirement from professional soccer on February 14, 2025.

## International career

Rowland has represented the United States on the under-15, under-17, under-20, and under-23 national teams. In 2014, she was the starting goalkeeper at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and 2014 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship tournaments and was awarded the Golden Glove award at the CONCACAF Championship after tallying four shutouts.

## Coaching career

Upon her retirement, Rowland joined the Courage as an assistant goalkeeping coach.

## Honors

FC Kansas City
* NWSL Champions: 2015
Western New York Flash
* NWSL Champions: 2016
North Carolina Courage
* NWSL Champions: 2018, 2019
* NWSL Shield: 2017, 2018, 2019
* NWSL Runner-Up: 2017
* NWSL Challenge Cup: 2022, 2023
Individual
* Pac-12 Conference Goalkeeper of the Year: 2014
* NWSL Second XI: 2017