WPSL GOLDEN BOOT WINNER CONTINUES TO SHINE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Andrew Mosier | WPSL Communications

 

There is a familiar name leading the NCAA Division I Golden Boot race this year. 

 

Khyah Harper.

 

Harper, the 2024 WPSL Golden Boot winner, tallied her 13th goal of the collegiate season for the University of Minnesota as the Golden Gophers clawed back from a two-goal deficit on Sept. 26th against the University of Southern California to collect a 2-2 draw on the road. 
 

 

Khyah Harper, University of Minnesota; 2024 Photo Bjorn Franke

 

Harper’s 63rd-minute goal versus the 24th-ranked Trojans propelled the senior from Lino Lakes, Minn. to the top of the Division I goal-scoring race and tied with the University of California’s Karlie Lema with a game in hand. 

 

Harper wasn’t the only WPSL alumna to score in the match. 

 

Maile Hayes tallied her fourth goal in the collegiate season to put Southern California up 1-0. Hayes, a senior, earned All-SO Cal Conference honors with four goals for Beach Futbol Club in six WPSL matches in 2024. 

 

Harper earned the 2024 WPSL Golden Boot tallying 16 goals in nine appearances for perennial powerhouse, Salvo SC, and earned Central Region Player of the Week honors twice and National Player of the Week recognition in Week 7 after banging in seven goals in two games. 

 

Though her goal-scoring prowess has been a known commodity since she made her WPSL debut while still in high school, including being named Co-Outstanding Player of the 2023 WPSL Championships in which her Salvo side fell to the Charlotte Eagles 1-0 in the WPSL Championships Final, it was not until this season that Harper experienced her break-out year at the collegiate level.

 

This, due in large part to injuries suffered in previous collegiate seasons that limited her goal output to just three goals over her first three seasons. Harper, now healthy, doubled that stat just three games into the 2024 season thanks to a pair of hat tricks.  
 

Khyah Harper, Salvo SC; WPSL 2024 Photo Jason Morales

“Khyah’s been pretty unlucky when it comes to injuries. She’s healthy for the first time in a long time,” Erin Chastain, University of Minnesota head coach, said. 

 

Chastain took over Minnesota’s women’s soccer program in 2021, the same year Harper joined the program, after beginning her career as head coach at DePaul University.  

 

“This is the first year that she [Khyah] has been completely healthy,” Chastain said. “She was able to play a full summer with Salvo, and came into preseason really fit and prepared, and is really playing to her full potential.” 

 

Harper has started all 12 of the Golden Gophers matches this season while averaging 80.5 minutes per game. Just past the regular season halfway mark, Harper has four multiple-goal games on the books, including three hat tricks — two of which came in back-to-back games at St. Thomas and Milwaukee. 

 

Harper recorded her third hat trick this season against BIG 10 rivals, the University of Michigan, who the Golden Gophers had not beaten since 2018. The win also marked Chastain’s 150th career win as a head coach. 

 

Erin Chastain, University of Minnesota Head Coach; 2024 Photo Trenten Gauthier

“That was a pretty amazing night,” Harper said. “It was a total team effort. Our team has really been clicking this year. Our chemistry is really good on and off the field. We are getting some really big wins this year.”

 

Harper was one of seven current University of Minnesota players that played in the WPSL in 2024 – a statement that both Harper and Chastain contributed to the Golden Gophers’ strong 8-2-2 start this season. 

 

“The ability to play in the summer prior to our competitive fall season helps with the level of sharpness and preparation and being ready to go right at the start of the season because it is so short,” Chastain said. “And it’s fun for them because they are playing against teammates. When teams like Salvo and Thunder play, we have Gophers going against Gophers at a really competitive level.” 

 

Harper credits playing in the WPSL since high has helped her development going into college and having the opportunity to go against her college teammates during the summer helped them “click even more” come fall.

 

Things do not get any easier for Harper and the Golden Gophers in the second half of the season as they prepare to face ranked teams in three of the six remaining regular season games: at No. 7 Ohio State (Oct. 10) and at No. 13 Penn State (Oct. 13) before closing out the regular season at home versus No. 11 Iowa. 

 

“We play a lot of teams that are really good [and] a lot of teams that are ranked right now,” Harper said. “Playing in the BIG 10 is always going to be hard, but I think that if we play our gritty soccer, we match up with everyone.”

 

Khyah Harper, University of Minnesota; 2024 Photo Brad Rempel

As of now, Harper plans on continuing her education as she pursues a career in physical therapy. She is weighing a return to Salvo and the WPSL, along with other options, including playing professionally. 

 

“After my injuries, I didn’t think that was an option,” Harper said. “Now I’ve got my spark back and I’m playing how I know I can play. Now that it might be an option again, I’m thinking about it.” 

 

For Chastain, Khyah’s options to continue playing are there for her to take advantage of as she choses.

 

“With the year she’s having and the talent that she has, that could definitely be in her future if that is what she decides to do,” Chastain said. 

 

 

 

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Khyah Harper 2024 Statistics through 9/29: