Melissa Lowder

Melissa Lowder
Personal information
Full name Melissa Anne Lowder[1]
Date of birth (1997-01-29) January 29, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth San Diego, California, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Bay FC
Number 1
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Santa Clara Broncos 63 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Utah Royals 0 (0)
2021 Chicago Red Stars 0 (0)
2021–2022 Beach Soccer LA 10 (1)
2022 San Diego Wave 0 (0)
2023 Þór/KA 21 (0)
2024– Bay FC 0 (0)
International career
2019– United States (beach soccer) 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Melissa Anne Lowder (born January 29, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for NWSL club Bay FC.

Club career

Lowder was signed on a temporary basis by the Utah Royals on May 28, 2019, as a National Team Replacement player, serving as a backup goalkeeper.[2] She was promoted to the team's Supplemental Roster on July 24, 2019.[3] The club option for Lowder's NWSL contract was exercised ahead of the 2020 National Women's Soccer League season.[4] Lowder earned her first start on September 26, 2020, during the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. In her professional debut she helped Utah earn a 2–2 draw with OL Reign.[5] Lowder was not given a new contract by Utah following the 2020 season.[6]

Subsequently Lowder was brought in to the Chicago Red Stars during the preseason, earning a spot as a National Team Replacement Player ahead of the 2021 NWSL season.[7] Lowder was not brought back by Chicago and was brought into the preseason roster for the San Diego Wave, eventually being signed ahead of their inaugural 2022 NWSL season.[8][9] Lowder was out of contract following the conclusion of the season, and was not brought back by the Wave.[10]

Following her departure from San Diego, Lowder moved abroad for the first time in her career, joining Þór/KA in Iceland's ahead of the 2023 Besta deild kvenna season. This was her first time in her professional career playing as a starter, and she made 21 appearances throughout the 2023 season.[11]

Lowder returned to the NWSL and signed with expansion side Bay FC on January 29, 2024, joining the preseason roster.[12] It was announced on March 11, 2024, that Lowder suffered a season ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, less than a week before Bay FC's inaugural NWSL regular season match away to Angel City FC.[13][14] It was reported previous to her injury that Lowder was seen as Bay's starting goalkeeper heading into the 2024 NWSL season.[15]

References

  1. ^ "College of Arts and Sciences – Bachelor of Arts: Communication". 2019 Undergraduate Commencement. Santa Clara, California: Santa Clara University. June 15, 2019. p. 13.
  2. ^ rsl. "Utah Royals FC Signs Melissa Lowder and Alexa Newfield to National Team Replacement Contracts | Real Salt Lake". rsl. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  3. ^ rsl. "Utah Royals FC Promotes Three Players | Real Salt Lake". rsl. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  4. ^ Lara, Cindy (4 November 2019). "Utah Royals FC offer new contracts and exercise contract options for 2020". RSL Soapbox. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Utah Royals FC 2–2 Seattle Reign". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  6. ^ Hackett, Tom (30 October 2020). "Utah Royals FC Announces Roster Changes Ahead of 2021 Season". KSL Sports. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  7. ^ "All 10 NWSL clubs reveal their regular season rosters". SoccerWire. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  8. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (2022-01-31). "San Diego Wave FC release opening 2022 preseason roster". LAG Confidential. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  9. ^ Emerick, Tyler (2022-02-02). "San Diego Wave FC Announces 2022 Preseason Opening Day Roster and Club Technical Staff". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  10. ^ Tracy, Trebor (2022-11-15). "San Diego Wave FC announce initial roster moves for 2023". LAG Confidential. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  11. ^ "Bay FC signs goalkeeper Melissa Lowder". Bay FC. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  12. ^ "Bay FC announces 2024 preseason roster to open training camp". Bay FC. 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  13. ^ "Bay FC suffers major blow as former Santa Clara goalkeeper Melissa Lowder endures season-ending injury". The Mercury News. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  14. ^ "Bay FC goalkeeper Melissa Lowder to miss 2024 season with knee injury". Bay FC. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  15. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (13 March 2024). "Bay FC won't reveal starting goalie for opener, but has front-runner emerged?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 26 June 2024.


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