Melissa Lowder
American soccer player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melissa Anne Lowder (born January 29, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper. She played college soccer for the Santa Clara Broncos. She was previously a member of the Utah Royals, Chicago Red Stars, San Diego Wave, and Bay FC in the NWSL.
|
Lowder with Bay FC in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Melissa Anne Lowder[1] | ||
| Date of birth | January 29, 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | San Diego, California, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| 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) |
| 2024–2025 | Bay FC | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2019– | United States (beach soccer) | 9 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Utah Royals
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] She was not given a new contract by Utah following the 2020 season.[6]
Chicago Red Stars
Subsequently, Lowder was brought in to the Chicago Red Stars during the 2021 preseason, earning a spot as a National Team Replacement Player prior to the start of the campaign.[7]
San Diego Wave
In 2022, Lowder appeared on the preseason roster of the San Diego Wave and was eventually signed ahead of the club's inaugural season.[8][9] She did not make any appearances before her contract expired at the end of the year.[10]
Þór/KA
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]
Bay FC
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]
