Julie Johnston

Julie Johnston is an American soccer defender who plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League and the United States Women's National Soccer Team. She was captain of the United States under-20 women's national soccer team that won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and the under-23 team that won the 2013 Four Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Johnston attended Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona where she was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and the National Honor Society. She opted not to play high school soccer and instead volunteered as a student athletic trainer. She instead played for the Arsenal girls soccer club and for the Sereno Soccer Club. She won the state title nine times with Sereno Soccer Club and was captain of the team.

Johnston attended Santa Clara University where she majored in communications and played for the Broncos women's soccer team. In 2010, as a college freshman, she played in 20 games, starting 16 and accumulated 1,519 minutes of playing time. She was named WCC Freshman of the Year, All-West Region Second-Team, Soccer America All-Freshman First-Team, All-WCC Second-Team, and WCC All-Freshman. As a sophomore, Johnston started all 21 games and led the Broncos with nine goals and four assists. She scored four game-winning goals in matches against Cal Poly, WSU, Cal and Nevada. She was a MAC Hermann Trophy semi-finalist and was named to the NSCAA All-American First-Team as well as the All-WCC First-Team.

In January 2014, Johnston was selected in the first round of the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars. During the 2014 season, Johnston started in all 21 matches and scored two goals. Johnston was named NWSL Rookie of the Year following the 2014 season.

In 2012, Johnston competed in international under-20 youth soccer and scored a goal against Switzerland at the La Manga Tournament in Spain. Heading into the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, she had 13 caps and four goals for the U-20 team.

Johnston captained the United States team to the Japan 2012 FIFA Women's World Cup; winning the 2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship along the way. She played in three games in the qualifying tournament and scored three goals, including one in the 4-0 semifinal victory over Mexico that sent the USA to Japan. In Japan, Johnston captained her team to win the FIFA under-20 world cup, and won the Bronze Ball award herself.

In 2013, Johnston played for the U-23 team in the Four Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain. The team won the tournament beating England in the final on March 7.

In January, 2013, Johnston was called to the national training camp by head coach Tom Sermanni, in preparation for a friendly match of United States women's national soccer team against Scotland women's national football team, ahead of the Algarve Cup. On February 9, 2013, she earned her first cap for the senior team, in a friendly against Scotland.