Lance Parker(I)
Professional soccer player, model, and all-around athlete Lance Parker is the goal keeper for FC Edmonton. Born and
raised along side a lake and wooded area of Oklahoma City, Parker grew
up enjoying and exploring the outdoors. An enthusiastic athlete from
the start, Parker began playing soccer at the age of four and added a
conglomeration of other sport activities soon after. He was just 12
when he decided to focus and concentrate on soccer and to become one of
the elite players in his home state. Playing Division I soccer at
Missouri State University, Parker's educational expenses were covered
in full by various athletic and academic scholarships. A high achiever
not just in sports, but also scholastically, Parker graduated with a
4.00 GPA in high school and graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in General
Business from Missouri State University, where he was on the Dean's
List every semester and was a member of the National Society of
Collegiate Scholars. He was also a member of the honor fraternity Phi
Eta Sigma, and served as captain of MSU's men's soccer team for two
years. His dedication, hard work, and tenacity to the sport, not only
helped him through his early schooling and into college, but these
solid character traits have groomed him into the outstanding sports
figure he is today. After his fourth year of playing college soccer and
being the recipient of a variety of both athletic and academic awards,
Parker was selected for the MLS team Chivas USA. After playing in Los
Angeles for two years with Chivas USA, Parker made the move to Florida
to play for Miami FC for a year and then went up north to play with FC
Edmonton in Canada. Parker began his second career, modeling, while
playing professional soccer in Los Angeles. After being approached by
an industry executive in the airport while on the way to a game, Parker
was soon signed with his first modeling agency and booking jobs
regularly. Parker's modeling work escalated when he moved to Miami, and
continues to flourish in the Edmonton market as well. He has graced the
covers of 5 magazines and has been featured in Vogue Hommes, GQ, Men's
Health, Cosmopolitan, and Ocean Drive, just to name a few. As he
continues his third year playing with FC Edmonton, Parker knows there
is more to Edmonton than just professional sports; he is exploring the
many opportunities offered in the river valley and Canadian Rocky
Mountains such as backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing while
continuing to enjoy other activities such as the many festivals in
Edmonton, disc golf, and lifting weights, which he does regularly.
Keeping in shape and training at such a high level every day is what
keeps him and his extraordinary six-foot-four athletic frame fit and
impressive throughout the year. Parker has other talents for bringing
variety into his life and fun into the lives of those who know him:
besides dancing and riding a unicycle, Parker is a pretty good juggler
and magician.