Veteran NWSL goalkeeper signed for 2024 season with option for 2025 campaign
San Francisco (Jan. 25, 2024) – Bay FC, the Bay Area’s new women’s professional soccer franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have signed veteran NWSL goalkeeper Melissa Lowder to a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2025 season, it was announced today.
Lowder spent the 2023 season, playing for Thor/KA in the first division in Iceland. She appeared in 21 games for the team, finishing fifth in the 10-team league while also earning a runner-up finish in the League Cup. Lowder originally signed with Utah Royal FC as a National Team Replacement player in 2019 before joining the Chicago Red Stars in 2021. She most recently spent time in the NWSL with San Diego Wave FC in 2022. Notably, Lowder represented the United States as part of the U.S. Women’s Beach Soccer National Team in 2019.
“Melissa is a great human being, and on top of that, she is a great goalkeeper. We are excited she is with our club because she is a player who wants to get better and someone who can help push the club to new heights. She brings leadership and experience to our goalkeeper group and is already working hard every single day” said Bay FC Head of Goalkeeping Diego Restrepo.
At Santa Clara from 2015-18, Lowder played in 63 games, making 60 starts during her career. The San Diego, Calif. native, finished her collegiate career with a 1.02 goals-against average with 219 saves and a 0.79 save percentage to go along with 18 shutouts.
Melissa Lowder
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-8
Birthdate: Jan. 29, 1997
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Previous Club: Thor/KA (Iceland)
Citizenship: United States
College: Santa Clara University
Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC’s inaugural season and new merchandise can be purchased at BayFC.com. Fans can also follow @wearebayfc on social channels for more exciting announcements to come.
About Bay Football Club
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bay FC was established in April 2023 and co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner in partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading tech, business and sports executives. Sixth Street’s investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a women’s professional sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women’s soccer as we know it. Beginning play in the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with power, passion, energy, and creativity. Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC at https://bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC’s social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise, and events.
