LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club announced the official signing of goalkeeper Taiana Tolleson to the inaugural USL Super League roster pending league and federation approval on Friday, July 5th.
Tolleson is a proud native of Hawaii, hailing from Kailua-Kona, and enjoyed a four-season collegiate career at Vanderbilt where she appeared in 34 matches between the sticks for the Commodores. She was also notably the first Hawaiian soccer student-athlete in Vanderbilt history.
Before entering college she played youth club soccer at Surf Hawaii.
While she wouldn’t see the field as a freshman, Tolleson began play as a sophomore in 2017, starting six matches in goal, posting a 3-2-1 record and .677 save percentage.
Coming back as a junior, Tolleson saw the field in 10 matches while splitting time with another keeper. During her time on the field she posted a 3-1 starting record, recording 9 saves and a 1.09 goals-against-average.
Returning for her final year as a senior, Tolleson saw the field in all 21 matches the Commodores played – recording 10 shutouts, which tied the third best mark in Vanderbilt history. She also racked up 35 saves and a 0.64 goals-against-average.
Following the end of her collegiate career, Tolleson would go on to play for the Tennessee Soccer Club USL W League team in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, helping the club capture back-to-back South Central Division championships.
Now having signed a professional contract with Lexington SC, Tolleson becomes the first ever female soccer player from the Big Island to sign a professional contract in the United States, and will continue her career in the inaugural USL Super League season.
Lexington SC will kick off its first ever USL Super League season on August 25 away at Carolina Ascent FC before hosting its home opener on September 8, facing the Tampa Bay Sun FC.
“Aloha, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity that Lexington Sporting Club has given me to live out a lifelong dream. The staff is building a special culture here, and I’m blessed to be a part of it. As the first ever Big Island female soccer player to play professionally in the states, I’m overwhelmed with pride to represent native Hawaiians and inspire the next generation back home to chase their wildest dreams.” said Tolleson.
About Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer), and in USL Super League (women’s professional soccer launching in 2024). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.