Lois Joel

Lois Kathleen Joel (born 2 June 1999) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for London City Lionesses.[1] Joel has represented England internationally at under-17 and under-19 level.

Lois Joel
Personal information
Full name Lois Kathleen Joel
Date of birth (1999-06-02) 2 June 1999
Place of birth North Finchley, England
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Defender / Forward
Team information
Current team
 London City Lionesses
Number 22
Youth career
Watford
Arsenal
Chelsea
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 West Virginia Mountaineers 33 (1)
2019 North Carolina Tar Heels 25 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 West Ham United 13 (0)
2022– London City Lionesses 5 (0)
International career‡
2016 England U17 5 (0)
2017 England U19 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 January 2021

Early life

Joel grew up in the London suburb of North Finchley and attended St Michael's Catholic Grammar School. She played football in the youth systems of Watford and Arsenal before joining the Chelsea academy and was a member of the team that won the 2016–17 FA WSL Academy League Southern Division title.[2] She was involved in one senior matchday squad, an unused substitute on 2 July 2016 as Chelsea were eliminated by second-tier London Bees on penalties in the first round of the 2016 WSL Cup.[3]

College career

In August 2017, Joel enrolled at West Virginia University. She played college soccer for two seasons with the West Virginia Mountaineers, making 33 appearances all as a substitute and scoring one goal and one assist. The Mountaineers won the 2018 Big 12 Conference Women's Soccer Tournament and earned berths to the NCAA College Cup both years.[4]

In May 2019, Joel transferred to North Carolina to play for the Tar Heels. She was signed on the recommendation of England youth national team teammates Lotte Wubben-Moy and Alessia Russo who had been with the Tar Heels since 2017. Having played multiple positions with West Virginia, Joel was noted by head coach Anson Dorrance for her pace, fitness and versatility. In her first season with the team, Joel made 25 appearances including eight starts and registered eight assists.[5] The Tar Heels won both the 2019 ACC regular season and 2019 ACC Tournament, and finished runners-up in the 2019 NCAA College Cup final.[6]

Club career

West Ham United

On 2 October 2020, Joel returned to England amid uncertainty around the US college season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and signed a short-term contract with FA WSL team West Ham United. She signed on non-contract terms in order to preserve her final year of college eligibility.[7][8] She made her debut on 18 October as a 73rd-minute substitute for Laura Vetterlein in a 4–2 WSL loss to Manchester United.[9][10] Ahead of the 2021–22 season, Joel signed a one-year contract extension.[11]

International career

Youth

Joel has represented England at under-17 and under-19 level. She competed at the 2016 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship as England topped the group by winning all three of their group stage games before losing to Germany in the semi-finals. They beat Norway in the third-place playoff, qualifying the team for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan. Joel made one appearance at the World Cup in a 3–0 quarter-final defeat to eventual winners Japan.

On 18 October 2017, Joel scored her first international goal at under-19 level during a 9–0 win over Kazakhstan in 2018 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualification.[12]

Career statistics
As of 10 February 2021[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
West Ham United 2020–21 FA WSL 50004090
Career total 50004090

Honors

College

West Virginia Mountaineers

North Carolina Tar Heels[5]

References
  1. "Lois Joel – Soccerway Profile". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. "Chelsea Academy". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
  3. "London Bees 3 Chelsea 3 (4–2 on pens)". Chelsea FC.
  4. "Lois Joel – Women's Soccer profile". West Virginia University Athletics.
  5. "Lois Joel – Women's Soccer". University of North Carolina Athletics.
  6. "Stanford beats North Carolina in all-time classic for the 2019 women's College Cup title". www.ncaa.com.
  7. "West Ham United sign Lionesses youngster Lois Joel". www.whufc.com.
  8. Ranson, Jacob (2 October 2020). "West Ham United sign Lionesses youngster Lois Joel". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. "West Ham 2–4 Man United". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
  10. "Lois Joel: I was buzzing to make my debut". www.whufc.com.
  11. "Lois Joel signs West Ham United Women's contract extension". www.whufc.com.
  12. "England-Kazakhstan | Women's Under-19". UEFA.com.
  13. "WVU Captures 2018 Big 12 Championship". big12sports.com.
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