2019 Women's Soccer Roster
Roster
Neal, Maya
GK
/ SoccerGK
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerF/D
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerM
/ SoccerF/M
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerM/F
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerF/M
/ SoccerM
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerM
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerM
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerM/D
/ SoccerF
/ Soccer
Jersey Number 32
Maya Neal
- Position:
- Defender
- Height:
- 5-2
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Naperville, Ill.
- High School:
- Neuqua Valley
Bio
DUAL-SPORT STAR: View Maya Neal's Track Bio Page
CAREER HONORS
- 2019 United Coaches All-Region (second team)
- 2019 All-SEC (first team)
- 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List
- 2018 United Coaches All-Region (first team)
- 2018 All-SEC (first team)
- 2017 United Coaches All-Region (second team)
- 2017 All-SEC (first team)
- 2017 SEC Community Service Team
- 2016 NSCAA All-Region (third team)
- 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team
AS A REDSHIRT SENIOR (2019)
- 2019 All-SEC (first team)
- 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List
- Started 17 matches during her final season on Rocky Top, finishing her career with 79 total starts (t-9th in program history)
- Became the second Lady Vol to ever earn All-Region honors four years in a row, claiming a second team nod in 2019
- Named First Team All-SEC to become one of five players in program history to earn all-conference honors all four years
- Ranked third on the team with 1,449 minutes played as the anchor of Tennessee's back line
- Only player on Tennessee's roster to see the field for every minute of league play
- Played all 110 minutes in a 1-1 draw at No. 7 South Carolina (10/18)
- Helped the Vols earn shutout victories over SEC East rivals Kentucky, Georgia and No. 20 Florida
- Picked up her lone assist of the season in a 3-3 draw at UMass (9/15)
AS A REDSHIRT JUNIOR (2018)
- 2018 United Coaches All-Region (first team)
- 2018 All-SEC (first team)
- Played and started in all 22 matches at center back for the Vols
- Part of a back line that limited opponents to 15 goals on the year and recorded 12 shutouts, both setting program records
- Led all position players with 1,810 minutes, averaging 82.3 minutes per contest
- Recorded her lone assist of the season on Bunny Shaw's equalizer in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Louisville (11/9)
AS A REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (2017)
- 2017 United Coaches All-Region (second team)
- 2017 All-SEC (first team)
- 2017 SEC Community Service Team
- Started all 21 matches at centerback, her first full season on defense
- Named to 2017 SEC preseason watch list
- Part of 10 shutouts during the season
- Recorded a season-best two assists, one in a 3-1 win over Virginia Tech (9/10) and 2-0 win over Murray State in the NCAA Tournament (11/11)
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2016)
- 2016 NSCAA All-Region (third team)
- 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team
- Top Drawer Soccer Postseason Women's Freshmen Top 100 List (No. 31)
- Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Women's Freshmen Top 100 List (No. 100)
- Started 19 games this season and finished fourth on the team with three goals
- Played a career-high 110 minutes in 2-2 draw at Kentucky (10/14)
- Registered first-career assist in 2-0 win over Texas A&M (10/9)
- Had two shots in 95 minutes of action in OT win over Indiana State (10/2)
- Played full 90 minutes on the back four in a 2-0 shutout win at Georgia (9/22)
- Played full 90 minutes in 2-0 shutout over Missouri (9/15)
- Scored final goal in 3-0 win at American (9/4)
- Scored opening goal in 3-2 win over ETSU (8/28)
- Scored first collegiate goal in 77th minute of 1-0 win over Liberty (8/21)
- Played 74 minutes and posted a career-best six shots in win over Liberty (8/21)
- Made first-career start, playing 64 minutes in season opener vs. Southeast Missouri (8/19)
AS A FRESHMAN (2015)
- Played 24 minutes in her first appearance as a Vol vs. Lipscomb (8/21)
- Missed remainder of the season with an injury
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB
- Neal is ranked the No. 30 overall recruit in the IMG Academy 150
- Is a dynamic athlete who will play soccer and run track at Tennessee
- In 2014, she helped lead her club team, Eclipse Select to a USYSA Regional Championship, the Disney Soccer Showcase title and a runner-up finish at ECNL Nationals
- Was named to the ECNL Nationals Best XI U-17 team in 2014 when she scored 14 goals in the fall/winter regular season
- Attended U.S. U-18 Women's National Team Camp in Dec. 2013
- Is a five-time All-American and eight-time all-state honoree in track & field, specializing in the heptathlon (4,904 points) and the long jump (19'4.75")
- Was the 2012 AAU National Champion in the heptathlon in track & field
PERSONAL
- Majoring in Political Science
- Chose Tennessee over Notre Dame, Florida State and Arkansas
- High school extracurricular activities include Girl Scouts of America Ambassador and community service activities
- Received the Gold Award and the Presidents Award (community service)
- Says her biggest thrill in soccer was training with Michelle Akers and the ECNL National final in 2014
- Her goals are to make the Olympics for track and to make the U.S. Women's National Team for soccer
- Parents are Sherman Neal and Michelle Neal
- Has two older brothers in the military, Capt. Sherman Neal II and 2nd Lt. Denzel Neal
- Says her brothers are her biggest sports influence as they have been the greatest example of a warrior spirit
- Maya Camille Neal was born on Dec. 22, 1996, in Naperville, Ill.
- Recipient of the Mallicote Family Women's Athletic Endowed Scholarship
- Also a member of the Tennessee Track & Field team (CLICK HERE for her track bio)
SOC | Joe Kirt Media Availability (9.1.25)
Monday, September 01
WSOC | Shae O'Rourke - SEC Now (8.21.25)
Friday, August 22
SOC | Alivia Stott Postgame vs. EKU (8.17.25)
Sunday, August 17
SOC | Joe Kirt Postgame vs. EKU (8.17.25)
Sunday, August 17
