Peyton Vincze

Peyton Sophia Vincze (born 19 October 2000) is a former footballer who played as a forward. She played college soccer for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and South Florida Bulls. Born in the United States, she represented the Wales women's national football team.

Early life Vincze was born in Kansas. Her mother had been born in Wrexham, Wales, but had moved to Canada at four months old before relocating to the United States in her twenties. Vincze attended Andover Summer Elementary School, where she won the Butler County spelling bee in 2012. She later attended Andover High School. She began playing football at the age of three and has an older sister who also played football at youth level. She made her debut in the Women's Premier Soccer League during a 4–2 victory over Texas Spars on 6 January 2018 and scored her first goal in her second appearance, a 2–0 win over Oklahoma City.

College career Oklahoma State Vincze committed to play college soccer for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls at the age of 16. Signed as part of its 2019 recruiting class, Cowgirls coach Colin Carmichael described Vincze as "an athletic, aggressive, hard-working forward who leads the line by herself. She's strong, she's a handful who never quits and she's a tireless worker who is constantly looking to improve."

After redshirting her freshman season, Vincze made her debut for the Cowgirls in 2020, but sustained a season-ending injury in a match against the West Virginia Mountaineers. She then missed the 2021 season due to another anterior cruciate ligament injury. Vincze returned to the team in 2022, scoring with a chipped finish in an 4–0 win over the Missouri State Lady Bears; her only goal at collegiate level for the Cowgirls.

South Florida In 2023, Vincze spent her senior season with the South Florida Bulls. During the season, she scored two goals – in an 5–1 win over the Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs and in an 2–1 win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs. She also assisted twice for Anna Sutter, in a 13–0 win over the Florida College. Vincze then played in her first and only postseason tournament, before the Bulls were knocked out by the Florida Atlantic Owls.

International career Although born in the United States, Vincze represented Wales at international level, qualifying via her Welsh-born mother. Her eligibility only came to light during a training academy set up by Welsh side Swansea City in the U.S., with Vincze being ignorant of the fact that she qualified to play for the nation.

Vincze made her debut for the Wales senior side on 11 June 2017 in a 1–0 defeat to Portugal as a second-half substitute. In October 2017, less than a year after discovering she was eligible to represent Wales, Vincze was named Football Association of Wales (FAW) Young Player of the Year. On 24 October, Vincze was named in the starting line-up in a goalless draw against Russia. On 31 August 2018, she made her final appearance for Wales, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 loss to England.

Career statistics College

International Statistics accurate as of match played 31 August 2018.

Honours Individual FAW Young Player of the Year: 2017