Brick Memorial Grad Living Soccer Dream After Signing Pro Contract

LISBON, PORTUGAL – Leah Scarpelli remembers telling her elementary school teachers that she wanted to be a professional soccer player when she grew up.

“It feels so surreal,” she said Tuesday morning. “Back then, I didn’t know what it would take to get where I am now.”

That ‘now” is Portugal, and Scarpelli is living her dream after signing a contract to play for the women’s team under Sporting Clube Portugal in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino league.

Scarpelli, a Brick Memorial graduate, was signed to a contract in late January after finishing her studies at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she played as a defender for three years after transferring from Penn State.

“It hasn’t been easy,” she said by text message from Portugal, where she has been since early February. “I’ve gone through lots of hard times with soccer, whether it may be switching teams, struggling mentally and physically from injuries or just having to revolve my whole entire life around soccer, even as a teenager.”

“So it has been a huge blessing to achieve this opportunity and finally play professionally,” Scarpelli said.

"As soon as I found out about this opportunity, I saw some videos and games and decided that this was the team I wanted to play for," she said in a news release from the club, which is where Cristiano Ronaldo grew up. "I really like the way they play. They are very creative, fast and technically advanced, so I think they will also help me to be a better player."

Scarpelli, whose father, Craig, played professionally in the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1980s, had played for the U.S. Women’s U-17 national squad. A knee injury sidelined her, however, and led to her seeing limited time at Penn State. After she transferred to Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, she found her stride, earning the 2022 Atlantic SUN Defensive Player of the Year her senior season and also was a 2022 College Soccer News All-American.

At Florida Gulf Coast, Scarpelli shut down some of the nation's best players all season long, while also scoring five goals and recording six assists as the Eagles earned their seventh NCAA tournament berth. Her Sept. 15 goal from 45 yards out against Queens College made the No. 1 play on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

She also captured a number of awards in addition to the conference defensive player and all-conference first-team honors.

“We are so happy for Leah and appreciate everything she has done here at FGCU," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "Going pro has been a goal of Leah's since her first day on campus, so it is very rewarding to see all her hard work and drive pay off."

She appeared in 47 matches and scored six career goals, including her year at Penn State, and had 12 assists total.

Scarpelli, who is signed through June with the possibility of renewing for a year if all goes well in Portugal, said she wanted to play overseas.

“There were a lot of people who questioned me in going overseas and thought I was going to enter the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) draft,” she said, “but the one thing I always wanted to do was to travel and experience other cultures. The culture in Portugal is beautiful and something I have never seen before so I have just been trying to take it all in like a sponge!”

She has been working to learn how to speak Portuguese when she’s not at training, and is enjoying the immersion.

“The Portuguese live a completely different life and I am grateful to be able to experience it,” she said.

Scarpelli majored in integrated studies with a minor in entrepreneurship, and said she will use those experiences to guide her future career.

“Soccer has always been the main thing I’ve always focused on so when the time comes to hang up my boots, I want to stay involved in women’s soccer,” she said. “I’ve also always wanted to write my own book on my experiences in life! I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon!”