Defender has already moved and is training with her pro team
With standout high school and college soccer careers complete, now it’s on to the professional ranks for Julia Leas.
The 2019 Madison High School graduate recently signed a one-year, free-agent contract to play in the top division of the OBOS Damallsvenskan women’s pro soccer league in Sweden for the team in the town of Vittsjo.
Leas already has moved to Sweden and started training with the team, and likely will be a midfielder or defender. The season runs from April into November.
“I’ve always been close to home in this bubble here. Now I’m so excited and so scared to do this and pursue a new challenge and experience, but I know it’s the right choice,” Leas said. “One hundred percent. I knew I wanted to become a professional soccer player some day.”
Leas hopes to eventually play for a professional team in the U.S., possibly after her one season in Sweden.
In recent weeks, Leas completed her final stage of amateur soccer by finishing her five-year college career for the Georgetown University women’s team. For her efforts during the 2023 fall season, the graduate student was chosen first-team U.S. Coaches NCAA Division I All-America. She also was a first-team selection a year ago.
In addition for her 2023 performance, the defender was chosen the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season and was selected first-team all-East Region, as she anchored the Hoyas’ backline of defense.
On offense, she scored one goal and had one assist during the fall.
Leas showed her versatility as a college soccer player when she was chosen the Big East Midfielder of the Year back in the 2021 season, playing a different position. Leas scored five goals, had six assists and took 52 shots that year.
Overall at Georgetown, Leas set a program record by starting 90 straight matches and playing in 100 games. She scored 16 career goals (seven game-winners), had as many assists and took 153 shots.
In her five seasons with the team, Georgetown won 67 games, 54 by shutouts, and Leas helped the Hoyas win the last four Big East Conference tournaments.
This past season, Leas helped Georgetown finish with a 13-2-7 overall record and reach the second round of the NCAA Division I tournament.
She made an immediate impact at Georgetown, starting 21 matches as a freshman and chosen to the Big East all-freshman team.
“I couldn’t predict the career I had at Georgetown,” Leas said. “When I first got there, all I hoped was to get some playing time.”
Her versatility and standout defensive skills made Leas an attractive player to professional teams.
When Leas played at Madison under head coach Devon Dowell, she scored 71 career goals and had 32 assists. She helped the Warhawks win two region championships and finish second in the state tournament one season.
During her senior season, Leas was chosen as the Virginia Gatorade Girls High-School Soccer Player of the Year. She also was a multiple time all-district, all-region and all-state player.
As a youth player, Leas’ soccer career began at age 4 playing for the Lil’ Kickers in Vienna.
