Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Lewandowski, Gina
Gina Lewandowski
- Induction:
- 2022
- Class:
- 2007
Gina Lewandowski was a leader in the emergence of the Lehigh women’s soccer program in the mid-2000s and made an impact on and off the soccer field in her 15-year professional career that followed.
Upon her arrival on campus in 2003, Lehigh had made just one Patriot League Tournament in 13 years. By the time Lewandowski graduated in 2007, the Mountain Hawks had made an appearance in the Patriot League championship game, won a regular season title and established themselves as perennial postseason contenders.
In her first year on campus, the Coopersburg, Pa., native made an immediate impact, scoring a team-best 12 goals, including three game-winning tallies, and led Lehigh with 26 points. The Mountain Hawks enjoyed a five-win improvement over the previous season setting the state for future success.
The 2004 season began with Lewandowski scoring all three Lehigh goals in an overtime win over Quinnipiac and both she and the Mountain Hawks never looked back. Lehigh went 12-8 in 2004 establishing a program record at the time for victories. When Lehigh needed a goal, Lewandowski delivered. She finished with program record-tying 15, including six game-winning tallies. Lewandowski scored twice in the regular season finale at Holy Cross, as Lehigh clinched its first postseason berth in 10 years, and after winning the first of her back-to-back Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year awards scored two more times in the Patriot League semifinals as Lehigh advanced to the Patriot League championship game for the first time in school history.
Lewandowski was once again Lehigh’s top scorer in 2005, as she led the Mountain Hawks with six goals, four assists and 16 points. The Mountain Hawks matched Lewandowski’s offensive prowess with a stingy defense that resulted in a 14-2-2 season. Lehigh went 6-1 in the Patriot League to earn the top seed in the Patriot League Tournament and Lewandowski captured her second straight Offensive Player of the Year award along with earning all-region recognition.
In her senior season, Lewandowski added three more goals, all of which were game winners, as Lehigh made its third consecutive Patriot League Tournament appearance. She became a four-time first team All-Patriot League honoree and left the program ranked second in career goals (36) and points (80). Lewandowski scored an incredible 15 game-winning goals during her Lehigh career.
Following her graduation in 2007, Lewandowski began her professional career in Germany with 1. FFC Frankfurt, and in her first season became one of the only Americans to ever capture a treble (when a club wins three trophies in a single season) – winning the Frauen Bundesliga, the Frauen Pokal and the competition now known as the UEFA Women's Champions League. Lewandowski helped 1. FFC Frankfurt to a second German Cup (DFB-Pokal Frauen) in 2011.
Lewandowski briefly returned to the United States to play for the Western New York Flash of WPS (Women's Professional Soccer) for one season. She then returned to Germany and joined FC Bayern Munich, where she played with one of Europe's most well-known clubs from 2012-2019. Lewandowski’s competitive stint with FC Bayern Munich was highlighted by back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2015 and 2016.
In 2019, Lewandowski returned to the U.S. and joined Sky Blue FC of the NWSL, which was later rebranded as NJ/NY Gotham FC. She continued to play for NJ/NY Gotham FC until hanging up her boots following a game on July 2, 2022.
Lewandowski's remarkable playing career also included one cap for the U.S. Women's National Team, in a friendly against Brazil on Oct. 25, 2015.
Off the playing field, Lewandowski reconnected with her former club Bayern Munich to participate in its “Reds Against Racism” initiative. She also helped facilitate change at the club level within the NWSL as the league’s athletes were able to form a Players Association. Lewandowski was also active in Gotham FC’s Players Community Outreaching Committee prior to her retirement.
A 2007 Lehigh graduate with a degree in biology, Lewandowski returned to Lehigh in the fall of 2022 as an assistant coach with the women’s soccer program, alongside Lehigh classmate Lauren Calabrese ’07. She was already on the Hall of Fame ballot prior to her return to the University, making her eligible for induction as part of this class.
In the fall 2022, Lewandowski was recognized as one of Lehigh’s five Patriot League Trailblazers of Distinction, an initiative across all league institutions to recognize the accomplishments of some of their most impactful women leaders during the Title IX era. Lewandowski and her fellow Trailblazers were formally recognized at the Lehigh-Lafayette women’s basketball game on Feb. 4, 2023.
Lewandowski now serves as the Associate Head Coach for Lehigh women’s soccer.
Upon her arrival on campus in 2003, Lehigh had made just one Patriot League Tournament in 13 years. By the time Lewandowski graduated in 2007, the Mountain Hawks had made an appearance in the Patriot League championship game, won a regular season title and established themselves as perennial postseason contenders.
In her first year on campus, the Coopersburg, Pa., native made an immediate impact, scoring a team-best 12 goals, including three game-winning tallies, and led Lehigh with 26 points. The Mountain Hawks enjoyed a five-win improvement over the previous season setting the state for future success.
The 2004 season began with Lewandowski scoring all three Lehigh goals in an overtime win over Quinnipiac and both she and the Mountain Hawks never looked back. Lehigh went 12-8 in 2004 establishing a program record at the time for victories. When Lehigh needed a goal, Lewandowski delivered. She finished with program record-tying 15, including six game-winning tallies. Lewandowski scored twice in the regular season finale at Holy Cross, as Lehigh clinched its first postseason berth in 10 years, and after winning the first of her back-to-back Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year awards scored two more times in the Patriot League semifinals as Lehigh advanced to the Patriot League championship game for the first time in school history.
Lewandowski was once again Lehigh’s top scorer in 2005, as she led the Mountain Hawks with six goals, four assists and 16 points. The Mountain Hawks matched Lewandowski’s offensive prowess with a stingy defense that resulted in a 14-2-2 season. Lehigh went 6-1 in the Patriot League to earn the top seed in the Patriot League Tournament and Lewandowski captured her second straight Offensive Player of the Year award along with earning all-region recognition.
In her senior season, Lewandowski added three more goals, all of which were game winners, as Lehigh made its third consecutive Patriot League Tournament appearance. She became a four-time first team All-Patriot League honoree and left the program ranked second in career goals (36) and points (80). Lewandowski scored an incredible 15 game-winning goals during her Lehigh career.
Following her graduation in 2007, Lewandowski began her professional career in Germany with 1. FFC Frankfurt, and in her first season became one of the only Americans to ever capture a treble (when a club wins three trophies in a single season) – winning the Frauen Bundesliga, the Frauen Pokal and the competition now known as the UEFA Women's Champions League. Lewandowski helped 1. FFC Frankfurt to a second German Cup (DFB-Pokal Frauen) in 2011.
Lewandowski briefly returned to the United States to play for the Western New York Flash of WPS (Women's Professional Soccer) for one season. She then returned to Germany and joined FC Bayern Munich, where she played with one of Europe's most well-known clubs from 2012-2019. Lewandowski’s competitive stint with FC Bayern Munich was highlighted by back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2015 and 2016.
In 2019, Lewandowski returned to the U.S. and joined Sky Blue FC of the NWSL, which was later rebranded as NJ/NY Gotham FC. She continued to play for NJ/NY Gotham FC until hanging up her boots following a game on July 2, 2022.
Lewandowski's remarkable playing career also included one cap for the U.S. Women's National Team, in a friendly against Brazil on Oct. 25, 2015.
Off the playing field, Lewandowski reconnected with her former club Bayern Munich to participate in its “Reds Against Racism” initiative. She also helped facilitate change at the club level within the NWSL as the league’s athletes were able to form a Players Association. Lewandowski was also active in Gotham FC’s Players Community Outreaching Committee prior to her retirement.
A 2007 Lehigh graduate with a degree in biology, Lewandowski returned to Lehigh in the fall of 2022 as an assistant coach with the women’s soccer program, alongside Lehigh classmate Lauren Calabrese ’07. She was already on the Hall of Fame ballot prior to her return to the University, making her eligible for induction as part of this class.
In the fall 2022, Lewandowski was recognized as one of Lehigh’s five Patriot League Trailblazers of Distinction, an initiative across all league institutions to recognize the accomplishments of some of their most impactful women leaders during the Title IX era. Lewandowski and her fellow Trailblazers were formally recognized at the Lehigh-Lafayette women’s basketball game on Feb. 4, 2023.
Lewandowski now serves as the Associate Head Coach for Lehigh women’s soccer.
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