When you hear the name “Lombardo” in St. Louis, you think of great food and sports. When you hear the name Karen Lombardo-Baker, you also think of women’s soccer! Host Jen Siess caught up with this trailblazer who, with her peers, found a way to pitch up and play no matter the uniforms, conditions, resources, or fans. As a member of the first intercollegiate women's soccer team for the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Karen was a three-time leading goal scorer, helping UMSL burst onto the college soccer scene with rapid success, then finished at Cardinal Newman with All-American honors. After rounding out her playing career with STL Championship Cup and Regional/Open National teams … she got the coaching bug - assistant at Incarnate Word (5 trips to the Final Four with 2 Missouri State titles) - women’s head coach at Florissant Valley CC (3 Conference titles and 2 NJCAA Championships) - first AND youngest woman to receive the NJCAA Coach of the Year Award TWICE! Listen in for Karen’s soccer start story, what she’s gotten from and given to the game, and wisdom for players and parents just starting their soccer journeys.

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