A Montco native has helped shape the future of American women’s soccer, writes Jonathan Tannenwald for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Huntingdon Valley native Erica Dambach, who played at Lower Moreland High School, has spent nearly two decades building Penn State women’s soccer into one of the nation’s premier college programs.
During her 19 seasons at Penn State, Dambach has guided the program to 11 Big Ten regular-season titles, five conference tournament championships, and the school’s first national championship in 2015. But beyond trophies, her biggest legacy may be the steady stream of players who have advanced to the sport’s highest levels.
Among them are stars like goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and midfielder Sam Coffey, both of whom have played for the U.S. women’s national team. Other former Nittany Lions have gone on to professional leagues and international competition, including Raquel Rodríguez and Marissa Sheva.
Dambach’s influence extends beyond State College. She previously served on multiple U.S. Soccer coaching staffs, including roles with youth national teams and the senior national team.
Despite changes in the sport, Dambach believes college soccer still plays a vital role in developing athletes and people.
For the Huntingdon Valley native, watching players achieve lifelong dreams remains the most rewarding part of the job.
To learn more about Erica Dambach’s legacy, visit The Philadelphia Inquirer.
