Ali Hall And Nico Perea Named 2022 U.S. Soccer Beach Female And Male Players Of The Year
Hall and Perea Both Earn Back-to-Back Player of the Year Honors
CHICAGO (Jan. 20, 2023) – U.S. Soccer today announced that Ali Hall and Nico Perea were named the 2022 U.S. Soccer Beach Female and Male Players of the Year. Both earned the honors for the second consecutive year.
“Ali is an integral member of our Beach WNT who brings an unrivaled intensity into each game,” said U.S. Soccer Sr. Director of Technical & Grassroots of Extended National Teams Stuart Sharp. “She also possesses intuitive skills that provide her with an uncanny ability to score from anywhere on the sand. With each year, Ali's stature grows on the international stage, and I am delighted to see that we again recognize her outstanding talents.”
Hall earns her second Player of the Year Award after displaying tremendous defensive prowess and versatility to contribute anywhere on the field. Hall finished 2022 with three goals and two assists in three matches played, helping the team to a first-place finish at the 2022 Women’s Beach Soccer Cup in El Salvador with wins against Argentina, Bahamas, and El Salvador.
“I feel extremely grateful in this moment and thankful for the opportunities this sport as brought into my life,” said Hall. “I surely wouldn’t be where I am without my teammates, who always show up and put in the work. They have pushed me to be the best version of myself in this game. I’m excited and motivated for this upcoming year of hard work and dedication to this beautiful game of fútbol. Beach soccer is on the rise.”
Perea earned his second consecutive honors after helping to lead the U.S. Beach Men’s National Team to a runner-up finish at the Mundialito, including scoring a goal as the team defeated No. 2 ranked Portugal 6-5 in their second match of the tournament. Perea also scored twice during the team’s run at the Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup in Dubai.
“Nico is an all-around leader who has enhanced his international stature in 2022 by stepping up in some big games to create impactful moments,” said Sharp. “This award is deserved recognition for all the hard work and sacrifice that he continuously provides the sport. Nico will be pivotal as Beach MNT embarks on the journey to qualify for both FIFA Beach World Cup and World Beach Games.”
“Every time I put on the jersey, I try to represent the crest the best way I can, leading by example, being a good teammate, and always giving every ounce of energy I have,” said Perea. “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by my peers and others for the hard work I put on the sand over the past year.”
In 2021, Perea was named Beach Male Player of the Year after significant contributions to the U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team’s runner-up finish at the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship and appearance at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Hall earned the Beach Female Player of the Year award after the U.S. Women’s Beach Soccer National Team played in the Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup, its second-ever global competition, and Hall started all three matches, bagging a brace against Brazil to give the U.S. an early 2-0 lead in its second game of the tournament.