Meleana Shim

Meleana "Mana" Shim

Personal information
Full name	Meleana Shim
Date of birth	(1991-09-25) September 25, 1991
Place of birth	Honolulu, Hawaii
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Portland Thorns FC
Number	6
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2012	Santa Clara Broncos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–	Portland Thorns FC	63	(9)
2015	→ Iga Kunoichi FC (loan)
International career‡
2012	United States U23	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 21, 2016 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 10, 2013

Meleana "Mana" Shim (born September 25, 1991) is an American soccer midfielder who plays for the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League. She was previously on loan for Japanese football team Iga Kunoichi FC.

Early life

Shim grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii where she attended Kamehameha Kapalama High School and helped the soccer team to three ILH championships. In 2007, the team won the state championship.

Shim also played for the club soccer team, Ho'okalakupua. In 2003 and 2005, the team was Region IV Finalists. In 2004, 2006, and 2007, the team was Region IV semifinalists. In 2008, they won gold at the Surf Cup U19 Championship.

Santa Clara Broncos

Shim attended Santa Clara University from 2009–2012 where she was a three-year starting midfielder for the Broncos. As a freshman in 2009, she played in 20 of the squad's 23 matches. She finished the year with 21 shots, including seven during the Broncos' three NCAA Tournament matches. During her sophomore year, Shim played in all 22 games, one of only four Broncos to do so, starting 18 matches for a total of 1,660 minutes played. She scored one goal and added three assists for five points and was named an All-West Coast Conference honorable mention. As a junior in 2011, she started all 21 games and tallied 12 points on four goals and four assists. She was named to the All-WCC Second-Team.

Playing career

Club

Portland Thorns

Shim signed with the Portland Thorns as a discovery player for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League. She made her debut for the team during a match against the Washington Spirit on May 4, 2013. She scored her first professional goal on June 16, 2013 at Jeld-Wen Field in a match against the Seattle Reign FC. After receiving a through ball from teammate Angie Kerr near the penalty spot, Shim finished with a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper. She also served her first assist during the match after stealing the ball off a bad pass and passing it to forward, Danielle Foxhoven, who was making a run into the left side of the penalty box. She was the Thorns' lone scorer in a 1–1 draw with the Western New York Flash on July 14, 2013 which began a scoring streak in which she scored a goal in four consecutive matches.

Houston Dash

On January 10, 2014, it was announced that Shim was drafted by the Houston Dash with the fourth pick in the 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft. She was traded back to the Thorns one week later during the NWSL College Draft.

International

Shim has represented the United States at the U-23 level. She played in both matches for the U-23 team during the Three Nations Tournament in June 2012 and helped the United States win the competition. On June 19, 2012 she started and played 90 minutes in a friendly against Norway.

Personal life

Shim publicly came out as a lesbian on August 30, 2013 in an interview with Outsports, the day before the Portland Thorns FC entered the National Women's Soccer League Championship.

External links

• Meleana Shim Portland Thorns FC player profile
• Santa Clara University player profile
• Meleana Shim on Twitter