All-American Defender Lucy Parker Joins UCLA Women's Soccer
June 25, 2019 | Women's Soccer
All-American defender Lucy Parker has transferred from LSU to UCLA and will be eligible to play for the Bruins as a junior in the 2019 season.
Parker, who hails from Cambridge, England, started all 24 games for LSU in 2018, scoring three goals and contributing to 10 shutouts from the center back position and helping the Tigers win the SEC Tournament Championship. She earned United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-America honors in 2018, along with first-team All-SEC and All-Southeast Region honors. Parker had a knack for big plays, scoring goals in the 89th and 106th minute to upset No. 8 South Carolina, 2-1, in October, and converting the game-winning penalty kick against Boston University to send LSU to the NCAA second round. As a freshman in 2017, Parker started all 18 games and totaled three goals with four assists.
A mainstay in England's Youth National Team program from the U-15-U-21 level, Parker has 22 international caps. She helped the U-19 squad win the 2016 Women's International Cup and played in two European Championship qualification tournaments with the U-17 team. Parker played for 10 years with Arsenal Ladies and was a three-time Arsenal Player of the Year.
"Lucy Parker adds tremendous experience and depth to our team," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. "We feel a player of this quality can impact matches on so many levels. She conducts herself in such a professional manner both on and off the field, and we are extremely excited for her to be a Bruin."
Parker is one of 12 newcomers to the UCLA women's soccer program in 2019. The Bruins return 10 starters from a team that advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals and led the nation in goals scored with 61.
