A Legacy of Leadership

October 29, 2017

By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications

When you are competitive and consistent, chances are good that you'll be successful more times than not.

Alyssa Riporti's competitiveness and consistency are the drivers behind who she is - a senior captain for the Lehigh women's soccer team who is successful on and off the field.

"I have a relentless drive, and always rely on bringing that same level of intensity, regardless of what I'm doing," she said.

By being competitive in all areas of her life, Riporti has created a legacy of leadership. That legacy got its start as a youngster playing basketball.

"My dad was my coach for basketball my whole childhood until high school, so he instilled that competitive edge in me," said Riporti. "I've naturally brought that drive into everything I've done."

Nothing was ever given to Riporti. As a youngster, her "primary" sport wasn't even soccer. She used soccer as a way to remain active with her friends, but it wasn't her priority.

"My parents didn't know that much about soccer, so I created my own love and understanding of the sport," said Riporti. "I started playing soccer when I was four years old, but I was the kid who, up until the sixth grade, was twirling her pigtails, picking the dandelions and wanting a continuous water break. It was just a hobby."
21301
That hobby became serious when she started playing on her club team, her passion for the game increased and she started realizing she might want to play in college.

"When I actually came to Lehigh for a visit, the first thing I noticed was the culture," said Riporti. "I really liked Lehigh's leadership development programs and opportunities to grow."

At Lehigh, Riporti has stayed true to herself and taken advantage of every opportunity to grow. On the field, she has started every game since the beginning of her sophomore year, but this came after playing in just two games as a freshman.

It didn't come easy.

"Coming in, I honestly wasn't ready," she said. "Between adjusting to college life and college soccer, it presented a different level of competition and expectations. Having two senior captains in front of me who played the same position was also daunting."

The transition to college (never mind DI college soccer) is never easy. Add nerves to managing the change, it took a while for Riporti to get her feet underneath her.

"In my first two weeks on campus, I wasn't performing at the level I should have been," she said. "I eventually came into my own deeper into the season, became more focused and driven and started practicing the way I could, but at that point, the starters were solidified and we were moving into Patriot League play."

Moving forward, Riporti was determined to play to the best of her ability and with it, crack the lineup.

"I worked hard and came back in the spring knowing there were spots open and I just needed to prove myself," she said. "I played with confidence, which made a huge difference."

Riporti's struggles have helped mold her into the leader she is today. She can truly relate to younger players who go through a difficult transition.

"What I try to do now, as a leader, is honestly tell the freshmen they're allowed to have a bad practice and do so in a way that doesn't completely kill their confidence," said Riporti.

Riporti's perspective is extremely valuable for everyone around her.

"Just having a leader like Alyssa, knowing she went through those hard times and was able to push past it, that's something her teammates can really look to," said senior Adrian Vitello. "They can say wow, if she went through that, I know I can get through it too."

The biggest lesson from Riporti's initial struggles is that she's gone on to earn everything she's accomplished.

"Alyssa understands what it takes to be successful every day because she had to work hard to earn her position," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "Alyssa doesn't take anything for granted. She can talk to every single player on the field and relate to them.

"Alyssa can say, 'this might be what I am now, but that's not what I was my entire career.'"

Riporti's influence goes beyond her teammates. As a Student-Athlete Mentor, Riporti also works with first-year players from other sports.

"I try to focus on channeling nerves into high performance and having fun rather than shutting down and feeling deflated once you make a mistake," she said.

Riporti has turned those initial nerves as a freshman into becoming one of Lehigh's (and the Patriot League's) top student-athletes. Named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award (which recognizes those who excel in four areas: classroom, character, community and competition), she also garnered first team All-Patriot League and All-Region as a junior, while continuing to lead a stellar Mountain Hawks' defense.

More than even her play on the field, Riporti's impact on the women's soccer program goes much deeper.

"The most rewarding aspect (of my four years at Lehigh) is seeing the program grow so much every year," said Riporti. "Our play has transitioned into more soccer IQ tactics. Rather than just being a gritty team, we bring both now. We've also established the culture of close relationships, and we're able to have those tough conversations where we hold each other accountable."
17219
Riporti's work at Lehigh isn't done, but when it is, her work as a leader should translate to the working world.

"This past summer, I worked in New York City as a sales representative with Uline," she said. "I met with five clients a day, talked to them about their products, helped them build a stronger product portfolio and gave them recommendations. It was a grind, but I loved it.

"I got an offer from them, but I'm exploring the waters. I'm interested in consulting, sales and marketing and things of that nature, or even pursuing a master's degree."

For now, Riporti is focused on finishing her senior year on a high note and taking things one day at a time. No matter how the rest of the season plays out, Riporti has left a legacy of leadership because of her consistency in being competitive in everything she does.

"Alyssa has been the same player every single day," said Lambinus. "You know what you're going to get, and that's what I love. She will tell you exactly what she thinks. It seems like an easy concept, but it's not. It might not be what the other people want to hear, but she's willing to say it.

"That's an unbelievable legacy."

"I believe the hardest part about being a leader is also being approachable," said Riporti. "I want teammates to know they can come to me about anything. There is no 'I' in 'team' so the confidence, success and happiness of each player will make us all better."

Those teammates will be what Riporti remembers most about her Lehigh experience.

"The first thing I'll think of is the relationships I've created here," she said. "That's with the staff, the team and especially within my own class. Everyone's so different and we always say we wouldn't have been friends without this experience.

"Today, we are not only friends, but also family. I value the relationships more than anything else."