Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Name Erin Hardy | Playing position | |
 | ||
Full name Erin Rachel Hardy Hollingshead Date of birth (1986-09-16) 16 September 1986 (age 29) Place of birth Anaheim Hills, California, United States 2000–2004 Southern California Blues | ||
Erin Rachel Hollingshead (born Erin Rachel Hardy, September 16, 1986) is an American soccer player from Costa Mesa, California. She was a defender for the UCLA women's soccer team and the Pali Blues of the United Soccer Leagues' W-League.
Contents
College career
As a freshman, Hardy started twenty-five of twenty-six matches for the Bruins in 2005, anchoring the UCLA defense alongside Jill Oakes and helping UCLA to eighteen shutouts in the season. Over the next three seasons, Hardy became a key leader of the Bruin defense; during her senior year, the Bruin defense only allowed six goals in twenty-five matches.
During the 2008 NCAA Final Four game versus North Carolina, Hardy drew a controversial call for a penalty kick after she tackled North Carolina's Brittani Bartok in the goal box. Yael Averbuch scored the penalty kick, which ended up being the game-winning goal for the Tar Heels. The loss would be the last Final Four appearance for Hardy, a senior. Despite the loss, UCLA coach Jillian Ellis praised Hardy, calling her "the best defender in the country."
Post-collegiate career
Hardy was expected to be a top draft pick at the 2009 WPS Draft, but withdrew her name two days before the draft took place, citing a desire to complete her degree at UCLA and focus on other aspects of her life. She rejoined the Pali Blues for the 2009 W-League season.
National Team career
In 2006, Hardy was a member of the fourth-place United States U-20 women's national soccer team that competed in the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in Russia, alongside UCLA teammates Danesha Adams, Lauren Cheney, Christina DiMartino, and Valerie Henderson. She was also part of the United States U-23 women's national soccer team player pool.