120 Facts About Erin McLeod

Erin Katrina McLeod was born on February 26,1983 and is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Halifax Tides FC of the Northern Super League.

Erin McLeod first appeared for the Canada women's national soccer team at the 2002 Algarve Cup and made a total of 119 appearances for the team.

Erin McLeod has played in two Olympic tournaments: 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London where she helped Canada win the bronze medal.

Erin McLeod played collegiate soccer for the Southern Methodist University Mustangs as well as the Penn State Nittany Lions where she set several all-time records.

The United States was given a penalty kick, which Erin McLeod did not save.

Erin McLeod has suffered three ACL injuries to her right knee.

Erin McLeod quickly climbed the local soccer ranks and found herself a midfielder on a Calgary select team.

Erin McLeod's father, Doug, was an oil engineer, a job that required him to move around frequently.

In 1997, when Erin McLeod was 14, she and her family moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, where she spent both grades 9 and 10 at Jakarta Intercultural School.

Erin McLeod was able to greatly improve her game by playing with boys.

Erin McLeod was heavier than many girls at her high school, and would often skip meals and exercise more instead.

Erin McLeod attended Southern Methodist University and played for the Mustangs in the Western Athletic Conference for the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

Erin McLeod recorded a 1.36 goals against average for the season.

Erin McLeod made 169 saves in the 3390 minutes she played for the Mustangs.

Erin McLeod was named to the All-WAC Tournament Team in 2001 and the Academic All-WAC Team in 2002.

Erin McLeod received First Team All-WAC Honours and NSCAA All-Region Honours in both 2001 and 2002.

Erin McLeod quickly took over the starting goalkeeper position for the 2004 season.

Erin McLeod led the Big Ten Conference in shutouts with 11 total for the season and ranked second in the nation in goals against average at 0.43.

Erin McLeod allowed 9 goals and recorded 56 saves for the entire season.

Erin McLeod earned third team NSCAA All-America honours, first team All-Big Ten honours, and first team All-Mid Atlantic Region honours for 2004, becoming the second goalkeeper to earn All-America honours for the Nittany Lions.

In 2005, Erin McLeod was the star goalkeeper for the team, appearing in 24 of the 25 games of the season.

Erin McLeod played a total of 2,187 minutes, allowing 20 goals and recording 85 saves for the entire season.

Erin McLeod helped the Nittany Lions go undefeated in the regular season and become one of the few teams in NCAA history to finish the season undefeated and not win a national championship.

Erin McLeod earned first team NSCAA All-American honours, first team All-Big Ten honours, first team All-Mid Atlantic Region honours, third team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honours, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for 2005.

Erin McLeod's 0.957 winning percentage during the 2005 season is ranked first of all time, while her winning percentage in 2004 of 0.875 is ranked second at the school.

Erin McLeod played with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the W-League in 2004 and 2006.

Erin McLeod made her first appearance for the team on May 17,2009 and was the starting goalkeeper in all fifteen of her appearances.

Erin McLeod returned as the starting goalkeeper for the Freedom during the 2010 WPS season.

Erin McLeod made fourteen appearances for the team before she suffered a season-ending right ACL injury in the 84th minute of a match against FC Gold Pride on July 24,2010.

Erin McLeod remained on the roster following the team's ownership change until her contract was terminated on March 9,2011.

Erin McLeod signed with Swedish team Dalsjofors GoIF in the Damallsvenskan for the 2011 season.

In January 2013, Erin McLeod joined the Chicago Red Stars in the new National Women's Soccer League as part of the NWSL Player Allocation, which distributed national team players from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Erin McLeod started in net for the league's first-ever game on April 14,2013, against the Seattle Reign.

In January 2014, Erin McLeod was traded to expansion team Houston Dash for Canadian international Melissa Tancredi, who had been newly allocated to the Dash as part of the 2014 NWSL Player Allocation.

Erin McLeod was named captain of the team for the 2014 NWSL Season on April 8 after a vote by her teammates.

Erin McLeod was the starting goalkeeper in the team's league debut against the Portland Thorns on April 13,2014.

Erin McLeod allowed one goal, leading to the first loss of the season for the Dash.

Erin McLeod made twenty appearances for the team during the 2014 season, starting nineteen.

In 2015, Ella Masar took over as the Houston Dash captain because of Erin McLeod's expected time away for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Erin McLeod stated that she was playing some of the best soccer in her career during the 2015 season, and was there in the final push to get the Dash into the playoffs, just falling short in fifth place.

On March 23,2016, Erin McLeod played 13 minutes of a preseason friendly before being forced off due to a knee injury.

On November 18,2018, Erin McLeod returned to the Damallsvenskan with Vaxjo DFF ahead of the 2019 season.

Erin McLeod made her first league appearance on April 17,2019, playing 16 minutes against Linkopings FC before substituting off injured.

On February 14,2020, Erin McLeod returned to the NWSL, signing for Orlando Pride on a one-year contract with an option for an additional year.

On January 24,2023, Orlando announced Erin McLeod would be departing the club to relocate to Iceland, the home country of wife and teammate Gunnhildur Jonsdottir following their marriage earlier in the month.

In May 2000, Erin McLeod was 1 of 40 players selected by the Canadian Soccer Association for a week-long training camp in Vancouver, BC for the newly formed Canadian women's under-19 and under-17 national teams.

Erin McLeod played in the under-19 team's first international tournament, the third annual adidas Cup, in May 2001.

Erin McLeod started in goal for both games, allowing twelve goals total.

Erin McLeod made several appearances during the tournament, with Canada earning fifth place.

Erin McLeod's received her first call-up to the senior national team in March 2002 for the Algarve Cup.

Erin McLeod was among eight under-19 players that were added to the 20-player roster for the tournament in Portugal.

Erin McLeod spent the summer of 2002 training with both the under-19 and senior national teams.

Erin McLeod started in goal for both matches of the tournament.

Erin McLeod fully transitioned to the Canadian senior national team following her performance at the U-19 World Championship.

Erin McLeod has stated that the transition was difficult for her due to the great depth of goalkeepers already with the national team, noting she often took the back seat to more experienced players, which affected her confidence.

In October 2002, Erin McLeod was named to the 18-player roster for the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the qualifying tournament for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Erin McLeod was forced to leave the tournament early to return to her Southern Methodist University team in order to maintain her scholarship.

From 2003 to 2006, Erin McLeod made 22 appearances for the Canadian national team, four of those being in major tournaments.

Erin McLeod was the starting goalkeeper in four of five additional appearances for the national team in 2003, allowing six goals and recording one shutout.

In September 2003, Erin McLeod represented Canada at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup though she did not make an appearance during the tournament.

Erin McLeod made one appearance for Canada during the Four Nations tournament in China on January 30,2004, against China.

Erin McLeod did not make another appearance for the national team until 2006.

Erin McLeod was invited to the first training camp of 2006 in mid-January.

Erin McLeod was named to a 17-women roster for two matches against the Netherlands in March 2006.

Erin McLeod was the starting goalkeeper in all four of Canada's games in the tournament, losing once in the final against the United States.

Erin McLeod was named to the 22-player roster that represented Canada during the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup in November, which served as the qualifying tournament for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Erin McLeod allowed three goals in 259 minutes played, recording one shutout in the match against Ghana.

In January 2008, Erin McLeod was named to the 21-player roster for the Four Nations tournament in China.

Erin McLeod made one appearance during the tournament in Canada's first match against the United States.

Erin McLeod started and played all 90 minutes of the game.

Erin McLeod was the starting goalkeeper for two of three matches in the Cyprus Cup, allowing one goal and recording a shutout.

Erin McLeod helped Canada set a CONCACAF record with 509 consecutive shutout minutes.

Erin McLeod allowed four goals in three matches, helping Canada advance to the knockout stage.

Erin McLeod was down for several minutes before she got up and attempted to resume playing.

Erin McLeod made one appearance for the team in 2009 during an international friendly against the United States on July 22, where she allowed one goal.

Erin McLeod was noted for making several impressive saves during the match.

In February 2010, Erin McLeod joined the national team for an 18-day training camp that included four matches in the Cyprus Cup and an international friendly against Poland.

Erin McLeod made one start in the Cyprus Cup against South Africa, allowing one goal.

Erin McLeod made one other appearance in 2010 in a friendly in April against China before sustaining another ACL injury in July while playing with the Washington Freedom.

Erin McLeod recovered from her second ACL injury quickly and was on the 24-player roster that competed in Chongqing, China at the Four Nations Tournament in late January 2011.

Erin McLeod appeared in three of the four matches in the Cyprus Cup, recording two shutouts.

Erin McLeod rebuilt the team and used inclusive language to help create an environment that allowed players to be honest with each other and grow.

Erin McLeod was able to address issues that she had with herself and others, which she attributed to helping re-build her confidence.

Erin McLeod appeared in two of Canada's four matches in the tournament, including the final against France.

From April until late June, Erin McLeod joined her teammates in an extended residency camp in Vancouver in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

Erin McLeod was Canada's starting goalkeeper at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Erin McLeod faced no challenge with the free kick; however, the referee then called a penalty after the ball struck Canadian player Marie-Eve Nault on the arm.

Erin McLeod was named to the national team roster for the Four Nations tournament that took place in Yongchuan, China in January 2013.

Erin McLeod started in two of the three matches, recording two shutouts.

The national team travelled to Europe for eight days in April 2013, where Erin McLeod started in two friendlies against France and England, conceding one goal in each match.

Later in June, Erin McLeod played during a friendly against Germany and was named Canada's player of the match for the second time in 2013.

Erin McLeod started in goal four more times in 2013, including two friendlies and two matches in the Torneio Internacional Cidade de Sao Paulo in December.

On November 24,2014, Erin McLeod made her 100th appearance for the senior team and recorded a shutout in a friendly match against Sweden at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Erin McLeod landed awkwardly on her right leg, sustaining ligament damage in her right knee.

Erin McLeod walked off the field on her own accord.

Erin McLeod has stated that her recovery is expected to take one to two years and plans to be back on the field in February or March 2017.

In June 2021, Erin McLeod was named as one of four alternates for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.

Erin McLeod announced her retirement from international soccer in January 2023 having last appeared in a friendly against New Zealand in October 2021.

Erin McLeod has been known to rely on meditation to deal with mental fatigue and mentally prepare for games.

Erin McLeod has said that Buddhist principles drive her meditation and her selfless lifestyle.

Herdman has noted that because of this, Erin McLeod has a calm and comforting presence on the field.

Erin McLeod has been recognized for her leadership on and off the field.

Peau de Loup was founded in early 2013 by Renaud and Erin McLeod joined the company in October of the same year.

On November 4,2015, Erin McLeod appeared on the business reality show Dragons' Den presenting her company and getting a deal.

Erin McLeod created all of the pieces in just six months and they all sold well.

Erin McLeod is an ambassador for the Right To Play campaign, a program that educates and empowers youth in impoverished countries in order to build self-sustaining communities.

Erin McLeod has worked with Rethink Breast Cancer, a program that educates young women on nutrition and body image in order to promote healthy living.

Erin McLeod has cited her own body image issues and eating disorder as her reason for getting involved with the organization.

In 2013, Erin McLeod became an ambassador for the non-profit organization Athlete Ally, which works to end homophobia and transphobia in sports.

Erin McLeod stated that her performance on the field improved after she gained more confidence in who she was off the field.

Erin McLeod believes promoting such confidence and creating an accepting environment, as Athlete Ally strives to do, is important for athletes and is the reason she joined the organization.

In February 2015, Erin McLeod signed an endorsement deal with Destination Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, in which she received a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara.

Erin McLeod came out publicly during a CBC interview following the controversy surrounding the 2014 Sochi Olympics and Russia's gay propaganda laws.

Erin McLeod served on the Canadian Athletes' Commission as the LGBT representative.

On July 6,2015, Erin McLeod married American teammate Ella Masar in Vancouver following the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Masar and Erin McLeod underwent an amicable separation in 2019, followed by divorce.

In October 2020, Erin McLeod made public her relationship with Icelandic footballer Gunny Jonsdottir.

Erin McLeod has several tattoos, the most noticeable being on her right arm.

In 2002, following Canada's silver medal win at the Under-19 Women's World Championship, Erin McLeod had the image of a Canadian Maple Leaf tattooed on her buttocks.

Erin McLeod has the Roman numerals "X X IX" tattooed down the back of her neck, representing the 29th Olympiad.