Peabody, Mass., native Ashley Phillips, a former collegiate standout at Clemson and current goalkeeper for the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer, has been named an assistant women's soccer coach at Northeastern University, head coach Tracey Leone announced Tuesday. Phillips comes to Northeastern with experience as a professional soccer player and youth soccer coach. She is reunited with Leone, who served as her national team coach in 2003.

“I coached Ashley when she was a part of the Under-19 National Team Pool,” Leone said. “She brings a great deal of experience with her. She's been trained by some of the top goalkeeper coaches in the country and currently is part of the Boston Breakers. Her ability to teach our goalkeepers and team some nuances of the game that she's learned will be exciting. She also has worked incredibly hard to get where she is at the professional level and for the players to witness that level of commitment and desire is very positive.”

Phillips, who joined the Breakers as a developmental player in 2009, is now the starter in net, making her debut on April 11. She is currently 1-0-1 with a 1.00 goals against average with 10 saves on 12 shots. Previously, Phillips had also played for the Boston Aztecs of the Women's Premier Soccer League in 2009.

Phillips also spent six years playing in the W-League for the Boston Renegades (2002-06) and the Atlanta Silverbacks (2008), where she went undefeated during the regular season and recorded shutouts in five of six games. In addition, She has national experience, playing on various U.S. national teams since she was 16.

Phillips was a star keeper at Clemson, where she was a four-year starter from 2004-07. She holds the school's record for most career saves with 326, including a single-season 119 in 2006 when she was named third-team All-America. She was a three-time All-Southeast region pick and three-time All-ACC selection, including first-team All-ACC in 2007. She ended her career with a 1.09 goals against average and 22 shutouts and helped lead the Tigers to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship in 2006. She graduated from Clemson with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology in December 2008.

Locally, Phillips was a high school soccer star at Milton Academy and on the club soccer circuit. She was the 2003 Gatorade Massachusetts High School Player of the Year and earned numerous All-America team honors.

The addition of Phillips completes Leone's staff for the 2010 season. She welcomed former professional soccer player and former Idaho State assistant women's soccer coach Lindsay Massengale to the coaching staff on April 14.

“I'm really looking forward to working with both Lindsay and Ashley,” Leone said. “They are wonderful additions to our staff and to Northeastern University. The players are going to really grow under their guidance, and they are going to truly connect with them, which will make the players' overall experience even more positive. I feel honored to be able to work with them.”