Former Whitehouse, UT Tyler soccer star Chestley Strother Ashley set to play for Swedish club

Published 9:58 pm Saturday, January 20, 2018

Editor’s Note: This is Part 3 of a seven-part series highlighting area pro athletes doing their offseason preparation at Tyler’s Accelerate Performance Enhancement Center (APEC). Today: Chestley Ashley (Whitehouse HS/Kvarnsvedens IK (Sweden); Monday: J.B. Moss (Brook Hill/Colorado Rockies); Tuesday: Mason House (Whitehouse/San Diego Padres); Wednesday: A.J. Minter (Brook Hill/Atlanta Braves); Thursday: Michael Kopech (Mt. Pleasant/Chicago White Sox)

Chestley Strother Ashley conquered one country’s soccer league last year and now has her sights set on Sweden.

Ashley is one of many pro athletes currently participating in an annual offseason program at Accelerate Performance Enhancement Center in Tyler. She said she wants to be ready for the start of preseason training with her new club, Kvarnsvedens IK, which is based in Borlänge, Sweden.

She earned All-East Texas MVP honors as a high school star for Whitehouse before going to UT Tyler and breaking that program’s record for career assists. Her pro career began shortly thereafter when Ashley won a spot on the practice squad for the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The NWSL features household names like Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride) and Sydney Leroux (FC Kansas City). The Dash were led by one of the most recognizable American players in women’s soccer, Carli Lloyd.

Ashley practiced with the Dash, but never featured in a regular-season match. To further her professional career, Ashley decided to change continents. Last year she joined UMF Sindri Hӧfn in the Iceland Women’s Soccer league.

“I flew into Reykjavik and then drove north for five hours and was there,” Ashley said about the journey to her former club. “It was cold there, but not what you think (judging by the name of the country). 

“I think there was one day where it dropped below 35. It was summer there, but it does stay around 55 degrees, even in summer, and that took some getting used to.”

In 20 games for Sindri, she scored 13 goals.

“I performed really well in Iceland and got the golden boot over there for that league. That kind of opened up a lot of doors for me,” Ashley said. “Other teams started offering me contracts and I kind of looked at the best situation for me.”

Ashley decided to accept an offer from Kvarnsvedens IK.

“I fly over there on Jan. 30 and the season starts on Feb. 1,” Ashley said. “I have to get my physical done, meet the players and start training. At the end of February, we have our first preseason game.”

Ashley said the league season will go “all the way to November.”

“The goal is definitely getting to play back in the NWSL,” Ashley said. “Going to Europe is great to give me confidence and (improve my skills). … I am focused on the team I playing for right now and I want to perform. That is the biggest thing for me, stay healthy and perform.”