A Different Path to the Top
7/6/2019 12:56:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Student Athlete, Features, Intellectual Development
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
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"Don't give up on your dreams because it is not going in the direction you want. There are different routes to the same destination." – Janice Harris
Today, former Lehigh standout Gina Lewandowski '07 is living a dream, standing near the top of the sport of soccer. She has played professionally for more than a decade, while also seeing time with the United States National Team.
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For as much as she shares with her former and current teammates, there is a big difference.
Â
Her path.
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"There is no one path," she said. "You don't have to be playing high-level soccer when you're 12, 13, 14 years old. For me, it was just about enjoying the game. When I was younger, people wanted me to give up other sports and focus on soccer. I know of friends who have been burnt out because they focused on soccer, or their parents were too demanding.
Â
"I believe playing a number of sports helped me get where I am today."
Â
Today, Lewandowski is playing in the National Women's Soccer League, the United States' top professional soccer league for women. This comes after more than a decade in Germany, playing for FFC Frankfurt from 2007-12 and Bayern Munich from 2012-19. She did play one summer in 2011 for the Western New York Flash in the (then) Women's Professional Soccer League.
Â
Eight years later, Lewandowski is back home in the U.S. playing for Sky Blue FC in Piscataway, New Jersey, barely over an hour's drive from where she grew up. Gina is now a stone's throw away from where it all started.
Â
It all started in the Lehigh Valley. The Allentown native was a special talent, but she began to blossom at Lehigh. That's when thoughts of playing at the next level creeped into her mind.
Â
"I knew I didn't want to stop playing," said the two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. "I didn't want to give it up. As an upperclassman, I was really considering professional soccer, but the U.S. didn't have a professional league when I graduated in 2007. I was just looking for opportunities to continue playing."
Â
Not long after graduation, Lewandowski would sign with the Charlotte Lady Eagles, a semiprofessional team.
Â
"I didn't really think my career would go further than that," she said.
Â
The support system around Gina, including Lehigh head coach Manny Oudin and the entire coaching staff, encouraged her to give professional soccer a chance.
Â
That's exactly what Lewandowski did. Before she played a game with the Lady Eagles in the summer of 2017, she headed to another country in search of an opportunity.
Â
"I have relatives over in Germany, so I reached out to them," she said. "They contacted some people and told me to come out as soon as possible to connect with teams out there. I took a leap of faith."
Â
That leap of faith paid off as Lewandowski would go on to make Germany home.
Â
"My goal was only to play two years, get back to the states and maybe go back to school," she said. "Just try and move on with life. I didn't really ever consider soccer as a professional job where I could earn money for a long period of time. But once I got to Germany, I was exposed to all different levels. You sign two-year contracts, then decide what's next."
Â
Lewandowski suffered some injuries, which led her to stay with her team, so she could continue her rehabilitation. All in all, it was more attractive to stay in Europe.
Â
"I also really enjoyed the challenge of being overseas and pushing myself to grow as a player and person," she said. "I was exposed to so many different cultures, countries and languages."
Â
Primarily a midfielder in college, Lewandowski has been a defender for most of her professional career. Gina's continued hard work on all fronts have paid off, as she earned a cap with the United States National Team in 2015, getting into the U.S. team's friendly against Brazil in 2015.
Â
Gina got to experience the dream of so many young, aspiring soccer players around the country – representing the Red, White and Blue.
Â
"It's one of the highest levels you can reach," she said. "It never really felt realistic. My goal was to get paid for something I love to do. Getting that call-up to the national team was an added bonus and something I wasn't expecting. But through all the hard work, perseverance and determination, I continued to enjoy the game. The call-up was a true blessing, and a reward in a sense, for all the years I've put in."
Â
Lewandowski is also a winner. In all of Gina's years, she has won a number of championships. Immediately in her first year with Frankfurt (2007), the club won the league, domestic cup and since-rebranded UEFA Women's Champions League. Lewandowski has won multiple more championships since.
Â
Flash back a few years prior and playing professionally was one of the last things on Lewandowski's mind. Her focus was simply enjoying the game. If you do something because you love it, whether it's a sport, activity, job or anything, you tend to enjoy success.
Â
"At the end of the day, my parents never forced me to play just soccer and I believe that's where you grow the love of the game, that's how you get better and that's how you really reach your potential," said Lewandowski.
Â
"In sports, there can be so many expectations and pressures. You can't reach your full potential because you're put under pressure, stress, expectations. It's unfortunate."
Â
Back in college, Lewandowski took one step at a time, not thinking too far ahead even when she was dominating the Patriot League. She scored 15 goals in 2004, finishing her career with 36 goals and 80 points.
Â
"I didn't really know how good I was (on a broad scope)," said Lewandowski. "I never thought, 'I can play with the best in the world,' but I knew if I got into an environment where the competition and the level was high, then I had confidence I'd be able to adjust, push myself and get to the next level. I was looking to get to a level where I could grow as a player and really reach my maximum potential."
Â
Lewandowski has reached her maximum potential due in large part to her experience at Lehigh, which helped set a foundation for success.
Â
And for all the success she enjoyed at Lehigh, it's safe to say Gina took her game to the next level after graduation.
Â
"The values that Lehigh instills in their students and athletes, in the classroom and on the field, is about discipline, perseverance and hard work," said Lewandowski. "I was able to build a structure in my life. I had a really good social network around me as well; we had a great support system overall within the program and we really helped each other. We all had the same focus in soccer, and we encouraged each other and held each other accountable to be the best student-athletes we could be."
Â
Now at 34 years old, Lewandowski is still going strong, and she hopes to keep playing for as long as possible.
Â
"I'd like to see how long I can play and see how my body holds up – physically, mentally and loving the game," she said. "Staying in the soccer world is something I'd love to do."
Â
Whenever she is ready to move on from playing, Lewandowski should have options.
Â
"I got my UEFA B (Union of European Football Associations) (coaching) license in Germany," she said. "How that translates to the United States, I'm not quite sure, but I do have the license to coach and I would love to stay involved at the coaching level and see where that takes me."
Â
Owning a degree from Lehigh University, Lewandowski knows she has the rest of her life to turn the page to the next chapter.
Â
"Do what you love for as long as you can because life is short," she said. "If I'm able to play at a high level, why not keep playing? I believe I've been given God-given talent, so I want to be able to use it to the best of my ability for as long as possible.
Â
"There is no one path to get to the next level; that's the message I want to get to people."
ÂGallery: (7/5/2019) Gina Lewandowski '07, Sky Blue FC
Â
"Don't give up on your dreams because it is not going in the direction you want. There are different routes to the same destination." – Janice Harris
Today, former Lehigh standout Gina Lewandowski '07 is living a dream, standing near the top of the sport of soccer. She has played professionally for more than a decade, while also seeing time with the United States National Team.
Â
For as much as she shares with her former and current teammates, there is a big difference.
Â
Her path.
Â
"There is no one path," she said. "You don't have to be playing high-level soccer when you're 12, 13, 14 years old. For me, it was just about enjoying the game. When I was younger, people wanted me to give up other sports and focus on soccer. I know of friends who have been burnt out because they focused on soccer, or their parents were too demanding.
Â
"I believe playing a number of sports helped me get where I am today."
Â
Today, Lewandowski is playing in the National Women's Soccer League, the United States' top professional soccer league for women. This comes after more than a decade in Germany, playing for FFC Frankfurt from 2007-12 and Bayern Munich from 2012-19. She did play one summer in 2011 for the Western New York Flash in the (then) Women's Professional Soccer League.
Â
Eight years later, Lewandowski is back home in the U.S. playing for Sky Blue FC in Piscataway, New Jersey, barely over an hour's drive from where she grew up. Gina is now a stone's throw away from where it all started.
Â
It all started in the Lehigh Valley. The Allentown native was a special talent, but she began to blossom at Lehigh. That's when thoughts of playing at the next level creeped into her mind.
Â
"I knew I didn't want to stop playing," said the two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. "I didn't want to give it up. As an upperclassman, I was really considering professional soccer, but the U.S. didn't have a professional league when I graduated in 2007. I was just looking for opportunities to continue playing."
Â
Not long after graduation, Lewandowski would sign with the Charlotte Lady Eagles, a semiprofessional team.
Â
"I didn't really think my career would go further than that," she said.
 The support system around Gina, including Lehigh head coach Manny Oudin and the entire coaching staff, encouraged her to give professional soccer a chance.
Â
That's exactly what Lewandowski did. Before she played a game with the Lady Eagles in the summer of 2017, she headed to another country in search of an opportunity.
Â
"I have relatives over in Germany, so I reached out to them," she said. "They contacted some people and told me to come out as soon as possible to connect with teams out there. I took a leap of faith."
Â
That leap of faith paid off as Lewandowski would go on to make Germany home.
Â
"My goal was only to play two years, get back to the states and maybe go back to school," she said. "Just try and move on with life. I didn't really ever consider soccer as a professional job where I could earn money for a long period of time. But once I got to Germany, I was exposed to all different levels. You sign two-year contracts, then decide what's next."
Â
Lewandowski suffered some injuries, which led her to stay with her team, so she could continue her rehabilitation. All in all, it was more attractive to stay in Europe.
Â
"I also really enjoyed the challenge of being overseas and pushing myself to grow as a player and person," she said. "I was exposed to so many different cultures, countries and languages."
Â
Primarily a midfielder in college, Lewandowski has been a defender for most of her professional career. Gina's continued hard work on all fronts have paid off, as she earned a cap with the United States National Team in 2015, getting into the U.S. team's friendly against Brazil in 2015.
Â
Gina got to experience the dream of so many young, aspiring soccer players around the country – representing the Red, White and Blue.
Â
"It's one of the highest levels you can reach," she said. "It never really felt realistic. My goal was to get paid for something I love to do. Getting that call-up to the national team was an added bonus and something I wasn't expecting. But through all the hard work, perseverance and determination, I continued to enjoy the game. The call-up was a true blessing, and a reward in a sense, for all the years I've put in."
Â
Lewandowski is also a winner. In all of Gina's years, she has won a number of championships. Immediately in her first year with Frankfurt (2007), the club won the league, domestic cup and since-rebranded UEFA Women's Champions League. Lewandowski has won multiple more championships since.
Â
Flash back a few years prior and playing professionally was one of the last things on Lewandowski's mind. Her focus was simply enjoying the game. If you do something because you love it, whether it's a sport, activity, job or anything, you tend to enjoy success.
 "At the end of the day, my parents never forced me to play just soccer and I believe that's where you grow the love of the game, that's how you get better and that's how you really reach your potential," said Lewandowski.
Â
"In sports, there can be so many expectations and pressures. You can't reach your full potential because you're put under pressure, stress, expectations. It's unfortunate."
Â
Back in college, Lewandowski took one step at a time, not thinking too far ahead even when she was dominating the Patriot League. She scored 15 goals in 2004, finishing her career with 36 goals and 80 points.
Â
"I didn't really know how good I was (on a broad scope)," said Lewandowski. "I never thought, 'I can play with the best in the world,' but I knew if I got into an environment where the competition and the level was high, then I had confidence I'd be able to adjust, push myself and get to the next level. I was looking to get to a level where I could grow as a player and really reach my maximum potential."
Â
Lewandowski has reached her maximum potential due in large part to her experience at Lehigh, which helped set a foundation for success.
Â
And for all the success she enjoyed at Lehigh, it's safe to say Gina took her game to the next level after graduation.
Â
"The values that Lehigh instills in their students and athletes, in the classroom and on the field, is about discipline, perseverance and hard work," said Lewandowski. "I was able to build a structure in my life. I had a really good social network around me as well; we had a great support system overall within the program and we really helped each other. We all had the same focus in soccer, and we encouraged each other and held each other accountable to be the best student-athletes we could be."
Â
Now at 34 years old, Lewandowski is still going strong, and she hopes to keep playing for as long as possible.
Â
"I'd like to see how long I can play and see how my body holds up – physically, mentally and loving the game," she said. "Staying in the soccer world is something I'd love to do."
Â
Whenever she is ready to move on from playing, Lewandowski should have options.
Â
"I got my UEFA B (Union of European Football Associations) (coaching) license in Germany," she said. "How that translates to the United States, I'm not quite sure, but I do have the license to coach and I would love to stay involved at the coaching level and see where that takes me."
Â
Owning a degree from Lehigh University, Lewandowski knows she has the rest of her life to turn the page to the next chapter.
Â
"Do what you love for as long as you can because life is short," she said. "If I'm able to play at a high level, why not keep playing? I believe I've been given God-given talent, so I want to be able to use it to the best of my ability for as long as possible.
Â
"There is no one path to get to the next level; that's the message I want to get to people."
Â
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