Former Dash goalkeeper Haley Carter has spent her life giving back. The United States Marine and Friendswood native started her career in the military after attending the United States Naval Academy where she played four years on the Navy Women’s Soccer team.
Carter spent eight years of active service, where she as a Marine Corps Logistics Officer, making two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While serving, Carter was able to continue playing soccer and represented the United States at two International Military Sports Council Women's Military World Soccer Championships. While she was stationed in Hawaii, she also played on a semi-pro team.
Upon retiring from active-duty Carter returned to Houston and joined the Houston Dash from 2014-2016. Carter was one of the original players on the first roster for Dash when the team played its inaugural season.
“It’s a full circle moment and the opportunity to see how the club has grown and improved over the years,” Carter said. “Getting to sort of enjoy the legacy that, some of us OG players started.”
In her final season with the Dash, Carter became first female player recognized with the FIFPro World Players’ Union Merit Award and also served as an assistant coach at for the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team While in Houston, Carter also start Haley’s Heroes with the Dash where she would honor female service women and first responders.
“We actually started the program honoring female veterans at halftime,” Carter said. “Then we expanded it to first responders as well. My stepdad is the chief of EMS in League City and my dad is a Harris County Sheriff's officer.”
Once she retired from playing Carter went on to coach at collegiately at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin as well as at Sam Houston State University and the University of Houston. Now, the 38-year-old serves as the Goalkeeper Coach for the Antigua and Barbuda Women’s National Team.
“The continued effort by the Dash to honor women in the community, whether it's veterans, first responders, women in business, in sports and various industries in the Greater Houston Community has been really exciting to see,” Carter said. “It's truly a pleasure to get to take part in something like this again.”
