After rounding out her graduate year in burnt orange, defender Lauren Lapomarda will be leaving Texas soccer to join Parma Calcio’s women’s side in Italy.
The professional soccer team plays in the Italian Serie B, the second division of women’s soccer in Italy. The club announced the signing on Jan. 18.
“Joining Parma is a dream come true, I am really grateful for this opportunity. The Club has an incredible history and I am excited to be part of such a prestigious squad with players of great talent,” Lapomarda said in her statement on Parma’s announcement. “My aim is to contribute to the team’s success and become a positive example for everyone, pushing myself to improve every day.”
Lapomarda has been a part of head coach Angela Kelly’s squad since 2020. In her five years, Lapomarda made 102 appearances for the Longhorns, setting the all-time record for the program.
As a senior, Lapomarda was part of a defensive unit that currently holds the longest stretch of time without conceding a goal after Texas went 597 minutes and 38 seconds. As a graduate student, she helped produce 12 shutouts in her 23 starts.
Despite her undersized stature at 5 foot, 2 inches, she uses her quickness to get around attackers to win the ball back.
“It’s not based on height, it’s based on how big of a game I play and so I think big, and I’m willing to give it my all,” Lapomarda said to the Texan in October 2024. “So just having a growth mindset, that if I’m willing to work for my team and myself, then I can achieve what I want.”
Her speed is not only used for defensive prowess but also to provide for the offensive side of the ball. During her time at the Forty Acres, Lapomarda contributed four goals and 10 assists from her defensive position.
Her most important goal came in the Southeastern Conference championship semifinals versus No. 5 Arkansas. Lapomarda scored a 108th minute overtime goal, sealing the win for the Longhorns and sending the team to the next round.
“Lapomarda is a complete full-back,” Parma Calcio’s announcement wrote. “Her strengths include defensive positioning and the ability to support the side in build-up play.”
Although her entire career up until this point has been in the United States, Lapomarda is familiar with Italy. She joins Parma whilst owning an Italian dual citizenship.
“My Italian roots define who I am today, they have shaped my values, my way of living and my determination,” Lapomarda said. “Growing up immersed in Italian culture taught me the importance of community, resilience and pride, and I am happy to bring these values to Parma.”
