Corey Ashe facts for kids

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Corey Ashe

Personal information
Full name	Corey Alan Ashe
Date of birth	(1986-03-14) March 14, 1986 (age 39)
Place of birth	Orange County, California, United States
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Playing position	Left back, left winger
Youth career
–2001	Beach FC - Impact
2001–2003	IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006	Virginia Beach Submariners	13	(3)
2007–2015	Houston Dynamo	211	(1)
2015	Orlando City SC	9	(0)
2016	Columbus Crew	18	(0)
Total		251	(4)
National team
2003	United States U17	4	(0)
2008	United States U23	3	(0)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 29, 2016. † Appearances (Goals).

Corey Alan Ashe (born March 14, 1986) is an American former professional soccer player. He played for 10 seasons in Major League Soccer (MLS). Most of his career was spent with the Houston Dynamo. He also played for Orlando City SC and Columbus Crew SC.

Corey started as a wide midfielder. In 2011, he became a left back. He was known as one of the fastest players in MLS. He was chosen as an MLS All-Star in 2011 and 2013. While with the Houston Dynamo, he helped the team win the MLS Cup 2007. He also helped them reach the finals in 2011 and 2012. He played 266 games for the Dynamo, which is the third most in the team's history.

Corey Ashe: A Soccer Star's Journey

Early Life and College Soccer

Corey Ashe was born in Orange County, California. He played youth soccer with Beach FC - Impact. In 2001, he moved to Florida to join the U.S. Soccer program at IMG Academy.

Ashe playing for North Carolina in 2006

From 2003 to 2006, Ashe attended the University of North Carolina. He played four years for the Tar Heels. He was a regular starter in his last three years. He scored 22 goals during his college career. In 2003, he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team.

In the summer of 2006, he also played for the Virginia Beach Submariners. This was a team in the USL Premier Development League.

Playing for the Houston Dynamo

Corey Ashe was picked by the Houston Dynamo in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. He was the 26th player chosen overall. He signed with Houston in February 2007.

Starting His Pro Career (2007-2010)

On May 19, 2007, Ashe played his first game for the Dynamo. He came in as a substitute against the New England Revolution. On June 3, he got his first assist in a game against FC Dallas. He made his first MLS start on August 25, 2007. He played the whole game in a 1–1 draw with the Columbus Crew.

On September 8, Ashe had a great game. He assisted three goals, all scored by Nate Jaqua. The Dynamo won 4–3 against Real Salt Lake. In his first year, he played 22 MLS games. The Dynamo finished second in their conference. They went on to win the MLS Cup 2007, their second championship in a row.

Ashe warming up before a game in 2008

In 2008, Ashe helped the Dynamo in the 2008 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. He played every minute of their four matches. On May 28, he scored his first goal for Houston in a 2–2 draw with FC Dallas. He played 22 games in the MLS regular season. The Dynamo finished as the top team in the Western Conference.

In 2009, Ashe had a toe surgery before the season. He made his first assist of the season on May 16. He helped the Dynamo reach the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup. He played 29 games in the MLS regular season. The Dynamo finished second in their conference again.

The 2010 season was not as good for the team. They finished 7th in their conference and missed the playoffs. Ashe played in 27 games and had 3 assists.

Becoming a Star Left Back (2011-2013)

In 2011, Corey Ashe signed a new contract with the Dynamo. His coach, Dominic Kinnear, moved him to play as a left back. This was a big change for Ashe. He had struggled to find a regular spot before. He took this chance and made the left back position his own. He started 28 games there.

Ashe's strong play earned him a spot in the 2011 MLS All-Star Game. The MLS All-Stars played against Manchester United. He played a career-high 32 regular season games. He helped Houston get back to the playoffs. The Dynamo reached the MLS Cup 2011 final. They lost 1–0 to the LA Galaxy.

Ashe defending Kei Kamara of Sporting Kansas City during a game in 2012

In 2012, Ashe continued to be the starting left back. He played 30 games during the regular season. He helped Houston qualify for the playoffs again. For the second year in a row, the Dynamo reached the MLS Cup final. They lost to the LA Galaxy again, this time 3–1.

Before the 2013 season, Ashe had a minor knee surgery. He was named to the 2013 MLS All-Star Game again. He started the All-Star game, which was a 3–1 loss to A.S. Roma. He played 30 games in the regular season and had 2 assists. He helped Houston reach the playoffs. The Dynamo made it to the conference finals. They lost to Sporting Kansas City 2–1.

Later Years with Dynamo (2014-2015)

In 2014, Ashe started the season well with an assist in a 4–0 win. He started the next 14 games. However, a knee injury limited his playing time. The Dynamo also signed DaMarcus Beasley, a well-known left back. This meant Ashe played less often. The team did not make the playoffs that year.

In 2015, Ashe found it hard to get playing time. He only played in 2 games for the Dynamo. On July 14, he was traded to Orlando City SC. At that time, his 266 games for Houston were the second most in the team's history.

Time with Orlando City

Corey Ashe joined Orlando City SC on July 14, 2015. He made his debut for Orlando City on July 18. On August 1, he had two assists in a 5–2 win against the Columbus Crew. He also had another assist on October 16.

On November 25, Orlando City decided not to keep Ashe for the 2016 season. This made him a free agent.

Playing for Columbus Crew SC

Ashe signed with Columbus Crew SC on December 18, 2015. He made his debut for the Crew on May 7, 2016. He got an assist in a 4–4 draw. He had another assist on May 28. He missed some games due to a thigh strain and a knee injury. On October 13, he set up a goal that helped Columbus draw 2–2.

On November 23, Columbus also decided not to keep Ashe for the 2017 season. Corey Ashe retired from professional soccer before the 2017 season began.

Representing the USA

Corey Ashe was a key player for the U.S. under-17 national team. He was a co-captain from 2001 to 2003. He also played in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship. In 2008, he played in the 2008 Toulon Tournament.

In 2013, Ashe was called up to the U.S. National Team. He was part of the squad for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The United States won this tournament. However, Ashe did not play in any games during the Gold Cup.

Career Numbers

Here are Corey Ashe's career statistics:

Awards and Achievements

Corey Ashe earned several honors during his soccer career:

• With Houston Dynamo:
  • Major League Soccer MLS Cup: 2007
  • Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship: 2007
  • Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship: 2011, 2012

• Individual Awards:
  • Major League Soccer All-Star: 2011, 2013

• With United States National Team:
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2013

Off the Field

Corey Ashe was born and grew up in Orange County, California. His father, Al, was a U.S. Marine Sergeant for 22 years. Corey's brother, Dre, served in the U.S. Army. Corey and his wife Jennifer live in Houston with their daughter.

Early in his career, Ashe worked part-time as a youth soccer coach. This helped him earn extra money. He is good friends with his former Dynamo teammate Geoff Cameron. They shared an apartment for several years. After Hurricane Harvey, Ashe helped at the Houston Food Bank. He also played in a charity soccer match. Corey Ashe is a Christian.

See also

In Spanish: Corey Ashe para niños