Full name Laurie A. Hill Years Team Height 1.55 m | Playing position Team Apps Position Midfielder | |
Date of birth (1970-02-11) February 11, 1970 (age 47) Place of birth Los Angeles, California, United States | ||
Laurie A. Hill (born February 11, 1970), is an American-born Mexican retired international soccer player who appeared as a co-captain in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was the MVP of the USL W-League in 1995, the first winner of the award in the league's history.
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Early life and education
Hill was born on February 11, 1970, in Los Angeles, California, and was raised in the same area. Her mother was born in Mexico City, Mexico. Hill attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and was a student-athlete on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos women's soccer team. Hill became UC Santa Barbara's career leader in minutes played (6,422) and was named a three-time All American from 1989 through 1991. Following her UCSB career, she was inducted into the UC Santa Barbara Athletics Hall of Fame.
Club career
Hill played for the Southern California Nitemares as a teenager. After she graduated from UC Santa Barbara, she went to Japan to play professionally for a year before returning to Southern California.
Hill rejoined the Nitemares in 1995 as they became a founding member of the USL W-League. For the 1995 W-League season, Hill was named the league's first MVP. She also featured for the Sacramento Storm.
Following the 1999 Women's World Cup, Hill was selected to be a part of a travelling exhibition against the United States Women's National Team. She would later be drafted to the Women's United Soccer Association's Philadelphia Charge in the 15th round of the 2000 WUSA Draft. She quit playing soccer before the Charge played their first game after deciding to focus on a nursing career.
International career
Hill, being American born and raised, attempted to join the United States women's national soccer team. She never made an appearance for the team.
After a law change, Hill was eligible to attempt to join the Mexico women's national football team prior to the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. After the Mexico national team played a scrimmage against the Sacramento Storm, Hill, who played for the Storm, approached the Mexican officials about joining the team.
Hill was successful in joining the team for their first Women's World Cup appearance and was one of over half of the 20–player roster that had American ties. Hill served as a co-captain for the team and appeared in all three group matches.
Personal life
Hill was nicknamed "The Thrill" after her play on the field. After soccer, she met her husband, Johnny, in the Summer 2001 and moved to Ireland. She works in nursing and is a mother to three children.