Lisa-Marie Woods
Lisa-Marie Woods | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 23, 1984 Tønsberg, Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Footballer (former), Assistant coach |
| Years active | 2001–2018 (player) |
| Known for | Norwegian professional football midfielder and forward; assistant coach at Creighton University |
Lisa-Marie Woods (born 23 May 1984) is a former Norwegian professional football midfielder who currently serves as an assistant coach at Creighton University. Her final playing role was as a forward with Asheville City SC in the Women's Premier Soccer League. Throughout her career, she competed for prominent teams including Norway's Asker SK and LSK Kvinner in the Toppserien, North America's FC Indiana and Ottawa Fury in the USL W-League, as well as Denmark's Kolbotn, Stabæk, and Fortuna Hjørring within the Elitedivisionen. Additionally, Woods played for BIIK Kazygurt competing in the Kazakhstani women's football championship and represented Perth Glory in Australia's W-League.
University
During her freshman year in 2003, Woods represented Oakland University located in Rochester, Michigan, before transferring to Middle Tennessee State University in 2004. Alongside her collegiate career, she participated in summer seasons with Norway’s Asker FK competing in Toppserien and also played for Ottawa Fury during the 2008 summer break prior to the Beijing Olympic Games.
Club
Woods started her football journey with Trosterud, then progressed to Lindeberg before signing with Vålerenga. In July 2001, she was loaned to Asker SK, where she marked her debut by scoring as Asker triumphed over Røa 8–0. Asker was a dominant force in Toppserien, securing the Norwegian Cup title in 2005 and finishing as finalists in both 2006 and 2007.
On 23 January 2009, Woods agreed to join German side 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam on a contract through June 2010 but departed after just two months to sign with American outfit FC Indiana, where she demonstrated prolific goal-scoring form. By August 2009, she returned to Norway to compete for top-tier Toppserien club Kolbotn.
In January 2010, Woods inked a deal with Oslo-based club Stabæk, occupying a defensive midfield role and netting 13 goals as Stabæk led the Toppserien standings. Her performances earned her the Toppserien Player of the Year accolade that November.
The following year, January 2011, saw Woods transfer to Danish club Fortuna Hjørring. After a successful campaign in Denmark’s 3F league, she joined Australia’s Perth Glory competing in the Westfield W-League. Subsequently, she returned to Fortuna Hjørring before rejoining Ottawa Fury alongside compatriot Leni Kaurin; during this period Ottawa secured the W-League championship and Woods was honored as Most Valuable Player. She then resumed playing for Fortuna Hjørring.
On 15 November, Woods committed to Lady Reds, reuniting with former Fortuna colleagues Kristy Moore and Melissa Barbieri.
In 2015, she signed with Kazakh champions BIIK Kazygurt. Two years later, Woods returned to Norway by joining Avaldsnes IL, where she made nine league appearances. In 2018, she moved on to play for Asheville City SC.
International
In 2003, Woods captained Norway’s squad at the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship, guiding them to the final held in Leipzig, Germany, where they were defeated 0–2 by France. In October 2009, she received a call-up to the senior Norway women's national football team for qualification fixtures and appeared as a substitute during a 3–0 victory over the Netherlands.
Throughout 2010, Norway contested sixteen international matches including crucial qualifiers for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Woods participated in thirteen of these games primarily as a defensive midfielder and scored five goals. A hip injury prevented her from taking part in the final squad for the World Cup; however, she quickly resumed club duties with Fortuna Hjørring that summer. Later on, she was recalled to represent Norway during European Championship qualifiers held in Iceland, reclaiming a starting role.
Coaching career
In 2018, Woods became a member of the women's soccer coaching team at Creighton University.
Personal
Woods has heritage rooted in both Scotland and Norway; she is the daughter of Gregory James and Gunn-Karin. Her brother, Scott, is also a professional footballer who has represented the Philippines.
Honours
- 2005: Norwegian Cup champion with Asker FK
- Named All-American in 2004
- Awarded Mid-Continent Conference Newcomer of the Year
- Selected for Great Lakes First Team and received Freshman of the Year honors
- Mid-Con Offensive Player of the Week (October 20)
- MVP for Asker Fotball Kvinner in 2008
- Player of the Year in 2010
- Recipient of the Toppserien "Kniksen Prisen"
External links
- 1984 births
- Living people
- Middle Tennessee State University alumni
- Norwegian women's footballers
- Norway women's international footballers
- Norwegian people of Scottish descent
- Expatriate women's soccer players in the United States
- Footballers from Tønsberg
- Expatriate women's footballers in Germany
- Expatriate women's soccer players in Canada
- Expatriate women's footballers in Denmark
- Fortuna Hjørring players
- Stabæk Fotball Kvinner players
- Boston Breakers players
- Adelaide United FC (women) players
- Perth Glory FC (women) players
- Asheville City SC Women players
- National Women's Soccer League players
- Expatriate women's footballers in Kazakhstan
- Norwegian expatriate women's footballers
- Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders women's soccer players
- Oakland Golden Grizzlies women's soccer players
- Expatriate women's soccer players in Australia
- Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Canada
- Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Denmark
- Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Kazakhstan
- Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Australia
- Toppserien players
- USL W-League (1995–2015) players
- F.C. Indiana players
- BIIK Kazygurt players
- Avaldsnes IL players
- Ottawa Fury (women) players
- Women's association football midfielders
- Creighton Bluejays women's soccer coaches
- 21st-century Norwegian sportswomen