Sydney Cheesman
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sydney Kaye Cheesman[1] | ||
| Date of birth | March 17, 2004 | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Dallas Trinity | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Colorado Rush | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 9 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | LSU Tigers | 44 | (2) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Colorado Rush | ||
| 2023 | Indios Denver | ||
| 2024–2025 | Colorado Storm | 13 | (2) |
| 2026– | Dallas Trinity | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2020 | United States U-16 | ||
| 2022 | United States U-20 | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Sydney Kaye Cheesman (born March 17, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for USL Super League club Dallas Trinity. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels and the LSU Tigers.
Early life
Cheesman grew up in Lafayette, Colorado.[1] She attended Centaurus High School, where she played soccer.[2] She committed to play college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels during her junior year.[3] She played club soccer for the Colorado Rush.[1]
College career
Cheesman made 9 appearances for the North Carolina Tar Heels over two seasons.[1] North Carolina reached the national championship game in 2022 and the quarterfinals in 2023.[4] She then transferred to the LSU Tigers before her junior year in 2024, where she immediately became a constant presence at center back or fullback.[5] After her junior year, she was named third-team All-SEC and the All-Louisiana Newcomer of the Year.[6] In her senior year in 2025, she was a second-team All-SEC pick after helping the Tigers match their program best win total. She helped LSU reach the SEC tournament final (converting a penalty in the shootout loss) and advance to their first-ever round of 16 in the NCAA tournament.[7] She finished her LSU career with 44 appearances, 2 goals, and 7 assists.[8] During college, she also played for Colorado Rush and Indios Denver in the Women's Premier Soccer League,[9] and the Colorado Storm in the USL W League, scoring in the latter's loss in the national championship in 2024.[10]
Club career
Cheesman was a non-roster trialist with the Portland Thorns in the 2026 preseason.[11] She signed her first professional contract with USL Super League club Dallas Trinity in March 2026.[12]
International career
Cheesman played for United States under-16 team at the UEFA Under-16 Development Tournament in 2020.[13] Following a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, she made several training camps with the under-20 team including friendlies between 2021 and 2023.[14] She was called up to the under-23 team at the start of 2026.[15]
Honors and awards
North Carolina Tar Heels
Individual
References
- ^ a b c d "Sydney Cheesman". North Carolina Tar Heels. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ New, Brent (April 25, 2022). "Big Cheese: Cheesman rallies Centaurus soccer past Holy Family to stay perfect". Daily Camera. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ Clark, Travis (September 28, 2020). "SIMA Recruiting Roundup: Sept. 28-Oct. 4". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ Jensen, Aidan (November 24, 2023). "Tar Heels taking on Cougars for spot in Women's College Cup". USA Today. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ Flood, Ainsley (September 10, 2024). "Player watch: A look at three LSU soccer transfers who are dominating on the defense". The Daily Reveille. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ "Cheesman, Hermannsdottir Earn 2024 All-Louisiana Honors". LSU Tigers. January 18, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ "Soccer Falls to Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament Championship Penalty Shootout, 8-7". LSU Tigers. November 9, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
"Soccer Falls in NCAA Sweet Sixteen to Vanderbilt, 1-0". LSU Tigers. November 24, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2026. - ^ Livengood, Paul (March 14, 2026). "Dallas Trinity FC signs U.S. youth national team defender". WFAA. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ "WPSL Players Featured in U23 USWNT February Camp". Women's Premier Soccer League. February 25, 2026. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ "NC Courage U23 claims 2024 USL W League title after second-half comeback". USL W League. July 20, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ "Portland Thorns 2026 NWSL Schedule and Preseason Information Announced". Portland Thorns. January 15, 2026. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ Dallas Trinity FC [@dallastrinityfc]; (March 16, 2026). "New player just dropped". Retrieved March 16, 2026 – via Instagram.
- ^ "U-16 USGNT Caps UEFA Development With 5-0 Defeat of Denmark". United States Soccer Federation. February 25, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ "Sydney Cheesman". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ McGowan, Dennis (March 15, 2026). "Dallas Trinity seems poised to sign former UNC & LSU defender Sydney Cheesman". 3rd Degree. Retrieved March 15, 2026.