Heaton will serve as a creator from the middle of the pitch in Richmond this season.
RICHMOND, Va. – W League RVA is pleased to announce that sophomore midfielder Hanna Heaton will play for the club in its inaugural season pending league and federation approval. The Virginia native currently plays at Christopher Newport University (CNU).
“I felt very blessed to receive the opportunity to play on this team for its very first season,” Heaton said. “I am most excited to play with some of my old Richmond United teammates and to grow as a player and a teammate.”
Heaton transferred to CNU from UNC Wilmington after making 16 starts there in her freshman season. She scored in back-to-back games for the Hawks and took 11 shots, four of which were on target — tying her for fifth on the team.
When she arrived at CNU, Heaton claimed 20 points for the Captains across six assists and seven goals, three of which were game-winners. She started in all but one game her sophomore season and in the game she didn’t start, Heaton still created opportunities coming off of the bench for the Captains, logging one shot on goal and one assist.
“Hanna’s a phenomenal player, she brings a different energy to the game and when she got a little more comfortable with the team and with the program [after transferring], she started to show her true colors of success,” Christopher Newport Head Coach Jamie Gunderson said.
Gunderson acknowledged there’s an ability Heaton has — especially when she’s comfortable — to find success from her own foot or to the foot of someone else. Sporting Director Madeline McCracken touched on what that versatility will mean for W League RVA, especially with the level of comfort that comes with seeing hometown fans and former teammates again.
“Hanna is an extremely versatile player who is willing to do whatever is asked of her in order for the team to be successful,” McCracken said. “She is consistent in her defending and she plays with an aggressive attacking style of play. For these reasons, we believe she will be an integral part of our team’s success. We have full confidence that her continued dedication and passion for the game as well as for the Richmond community will help us be successful for years to come!”
Before college, Heaton played for Richmond United and for Gloucester High School, earning First-Team All-Conference honors for her school team. As a Richmond United player, Heaton was a member of ECNL and ODP National Training Camps. She also played at a Youth National Team Training ID Center in October 2018 and competed in the ODP Region One Iceland Tour in April 2018. She also participated in several ECNL National events.
At Richmond United, Heaton worked with W League RVA Head Coach Kimmy Cummings who is also excited about Heaton’s potential as both a creator and a closer in opportunities around the net.
“Hanna is a clever attacker and an excellent student of the game; her ability to read and analyze play to then break opponents down is top-notch,” Cummings said. “She is the type of player that a lot of attacks will originate with but will also get on the end of plays to find the back of the net. Her personality is an excellent cultural fit for the program and I know she will bring excitement to the fans in City Stadium!”
Heaton is not the only person in her family to play soccer. Her father Craig played at Christopher Newport as well and throughout her career, Hanna and Craig have worked together to give back to soccer in the Richmond region. The pair coached U10 girls during her high school career and volunteered to referee for Gloucester Parks soccer.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see Hanna and the rest of the squad in action this season!
