# Leah Scarpelli

Leah Elizabeth Scarpelli (born September 18, 2001) is an American professional women's soccer player who plays as a defender or midfielder for Brooklyn FC in the inaugural year of the USL Super League. She has previously played professionally for Sporting Club de Portugal and Brisbane Roar FC.

## Early life and college career

Scarpelli is a native of Brick Township, New Jersey. She started playing soccer at the age of four in the Brick, NJ travelling soccer program and played high school soccer at Brick Memorial High School in her sophomore year. High school honors included: Offensive Player MVP, First Team All A South Jersey, All-State Third Team.
Scarpelli played soccer at several travelling club teams throughout her youth/high school including: NJSA (boys' team), International Girls Futbol Academy, Match Fit Academy, Player Development Academy and Cedar Stars Academy.
Scarpelli was on the state, regional and national youth soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams. It was at the national ODP training camp in Florida where she was seen by the U.S. scouts and soon thereafter, Scarpelli attended her first US National U-15 training camp at the age of 13 in Carson, CA in March 2015.
Scarpelli played D1 college soccer at Pennsylvania State University and Florida Gulf Coast University. At Penn State, her team won the Big Ten Conference Championship in the Fall of 2019. At FGCU her team won the ASUN Conference Championship in the Fall of 2022.
Scarpelli played in the WPSL - Cape Coral in Florida during summer college break and received the 2021 All-Conference Team WPSL - Sunshine South Conference honor.
At Florida Gulf Coast University, Scarpelli earned several honors including: 2023 Ken Kavanagh FGCU Eagle Scholar-Athlete Finalist, ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, NCAA United Coaches Women's Scholar All-American - 2nd Team, College Sports News All-American - Third Team, NCAA United Coaches - All South Scholar, ASUN Conference All-Tournament Team, ASUN First Team of the Year, Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District. 2022 ASUN Conference Champions. In September 2022 in the FGCU game vs. Queens College, Scarpelli scored from 45-yards out to earn the number one spot in the ESPN Sports Center Top Ten featured morning program.
Scarpelli graduated Summa Cum Laude in December 2022.

## Club career
### Sporting CP

After college graduation, Scarpelli signed with the women's professional Portuguese team Sporting Clube de Portugal on January 27, 2023.

### Brisbane Roar

On August 28, 2023, Scarpelli joined Brisbane Roar FC of the A-League.

### Brooklyn FC

Scarpelli joined Brooklyn FC on June 28, 2024, ahead of the inaugural USL Super League season. Scarpelli made her club debut in Brooklyn's inaugural match against Spokane on September 8, 2024.

## International career

Scarpelli was called up to several United States National teams (U15, U16 and U17) training camps held in Oregon, California, Florida, Netherlands and Italy. In August 2016, she was rostered on the U15 Girls CONCACAF team where her team won the 2016 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship. Scarpelli was selected on the Best XI team (center back). While with the United States national under-17 team in April 2017, Scarpelli played as a defender in the US U17 Torneo Women's Delle Nazioni International Tournament in Italy where her team won the championship.

## Style of play

Scarpelli has been described: "brings versatility... having grown up playing central midfield and left midfield before eventually falling into a strong center back role".

## Personal life

Scarpelli is the daughter of American professional soccer goalkeeper Craig Scarpelli, who was also on the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team in 1980. She has regarded Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo as her football idol.