Liz Bogus


Elizabeth Ely Bogus is an American retired soccer player who played as a midfielder and forward. She played semi-professionally with Chicago Cobras, Arizona Heatwave, Ajax America Women, Mile High Edge, Pali Blues, and Boston Aztec; at the professional level, she appeared for Los Angeles Sol, Boston Breakers, PK-35 Vantaa, Seattle Reign, and FC Kansas City.

Early life

Born in Provo, Utah, Bogus began playing soccer when she was eight years old. She attended Brighton High School in Cottonwood Heights. With the Bengals, she set records with 79 career goals and 27 assists and earned three UHSAA all-state first team selections; Bogus was named all-state second team as a freshman. As a senior, she was named the Utah High School Player of the Year by Gatorade and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was also honored as an honorable mention all-American by the United States Specialty Sports Association.
At the club level, Bogus played with Sparta United SC for two seasons, Utah FC for one, and Firebirds SC for three. She was selected to take part in the 2001 Interregional National camp and the Adidas ESP camp. Bogus additionally played with the Utah Olympic Development Program team for four years and was on the Region IV ODP team for one season. She committed to play college soccer for coach Ray Leone at Arizona State University, part of a recruiting class that also included Manya Makoski.

College and amateur

Bogus attended Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. She made an immediate mark on the team her freshman year, when she was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. Bogus led the conference in game-winning goals with seven, which tied the school record for a single season. She ranked third in shots and goals and had three assists. She was named to the 2002 All-Pac-10 First Team and Soccer America Magazine’s Freshman All-America Team. She was one of 12 finalists for Soccer Buzz Magazine’s 2002 National Freshman of the Year.
During her sophomore year, Bogus scored six goals and provided four assists, earning honorable mention accolades from the PAC. In 2004, Bogus scored four goals, including two game winners, and had a team-high five assists. She made the All-conference second team. As senior, Bogus scored 11 goals, including two game winners, and six assists. She received honors from the Pac-10, making the all-conference first team. SoccerBuzz and ESPN The Magazine both named Bogus to first teams in the West. Bogus finished her career at ASU ranked second in goals and points and third for game-winning goals and assists.

Semi-pro leagues, 2004–2008

Bogus played on many semi-professional teams before being drafted by FC Gold Pride in the 2008 WPS General Draft. She moved to Los Angeles before the final rosters were announced.

Professional career

The WPS years, 2009–2011

signed Bogus off waivers for the 2009 season and she appeared in seven games for the club.
In 2010, Bogus was signed as a developmental player by the Boston Breakers and spent the next two seasons playing with the Boston Aztec and the Breakers. She scored three goals and provided one assist in two WPS seasons.

Seattle Reign FC, 2013

On February 7, 2013, Bogus was picked by Seattle Reign FC in the fourth round of the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft. During the team's first regular season match against the Chicago Red Stars, Bogus provided the assist on the team's first goal by Christine Nairn. Of the assist, Nairn said, "I had the easy job. If Liz didn't put a perfect ball on my head, I wouldn't have been in the position that I was in." During a home match on July 26, 2013, Bogus scored a goal in the 83rd minute helping the Reign defeat the Chicago Red Stars 4-1. She made 19 appearances for the Reign during the 2013 season, serving two assists and one goal.
On December 5, 2013, it was announced that Bogus had been traded to FC Kansas City for the 2014 season. Of the trade, Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey said, "Liz was a huge part of our group last season and she will be missed...but when we looked at the upcoming season in the context of the changes we have planned, we feared her playing time could be limited. As a result, we felt the trade with Kansas City would be best for all involved."

FC Kansas City, 2014–2015

After winning the NWSL championship with FC Kansas City in 2014 and 2015, Bogus announced her retirement from professional soccer on March 1, 2016.

Coaching career

On January 30, 2017, the University of Utah announced that Bogus would be joining the school as an assistant coach.

Personal life

Bogus majored in business communications at Arizona State, graduating from the W. P. Carey School of Business. Her father, Tom, was a soccer player at BYU and her mother, Brooke Adams, was a volleyball player at Utah Valley State and San Diego.

Career statistics

Sources:

Honors

;Pali Blues
;PK-35 Vantaa
;FC Kansas City