Like father, like son.
 
For women's soccer senior Heather Camperson and her father, the saying should be rephrased like father, like daughter.
 
Camperson has enjoyed a standout career in the Brown and White with Saturday's Senior Day game still remaining. Heather's father Brian played basketball at Lehigh in the late 1970s, while the family has even more Lehigh connections that go beyond the athletic department.
 
Heather's father is proud of the legacy that Heather has continued to build.

Camperson varsity letters side-by-side

"There aren't too many father-daughter combinations who can hang their collegiate varsity letters side-by-side up on the wall," said Brian. "Even better is that it's from the same institution. Sometimes you see father-son, but father-daughter is unique."
 
When exploring college options, the Springfield, Virginia native had several possibilities, but the decision was a no-brainer. Her older brother Sean was entering his senior year at Lehigh, which made the decision easy.
 
"It was the right distance and easy for my family," said Heather. "Lehigh encompassed everything I wanted. It was an added bonus that my brother was here with me."
 
The college decision was made by Heather, who didn't receive pressure from family members to attend Lehigh.
 
"We always told Heather to find a school that has good academic reputation and standing," said Brian. "When she graduated from high school, she had straight A's with great SAT scores. We told her to find a college or university that was challenging academically, had what she wanted and one she thought that you could play for.
 
"Most importantly, find one that you like when you walk on campus," he continued. "Heather liked the way Lehigh looked, liked the team, liked the reputation and obviously really likes the academic reputation."
 
Heather had a fairly smooth transition to college, thanks in large part to her brother, who was in the ROTC and is currently a lieutenant in Afghanistan.
 
"Several times, I went to his off-campus house and he would cook me dinner," she said. "Actually going to someone's house, it felt like I was home again. Obviously not the same type of house, but it felt comforting."
 
Camperson's freshman year was historic as the Mountain Hawks won their first-ever Patriot League Championship and advanced to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Heather played in just two games, but learned from a talented core of upperclassmen.
 
From day one, the team seemed determined to make history. It marked the first year as head coach for Eric Lambinus.
 
"The girls were so focused on not only getting to the tournament, but also winning it," said Camperson. "There was a mentality that you're on board or you're not… and if you're not on board, we're going to leave you behind and keep on going."
 
Heather had a natural adjustment to college soccer, but she learned from her peers then immediately took action in the spring and summer to improve, both physical and mentally. It certainly paid off over the rest of her career.
 
"I focused on fitness between the fall and spring of my freshman year," said Camperson. "I also spent more time with a soccer ball, really trying to make my skills better. When I came in as a freshman, I was lacking a lot of things, including fitness and ball skill. Being able to focus on those specific areas helped me contribute on the field."
 
Camperson went from playing two games as a freshman to playing in all 17 as a sophomore (starting 12), starting 17 games as a junior and all 16 games this season.
 
The Mountain Hawks followed their championship by just missing the Patriot League Tournament. All three of their league losses were by a single goal, but Lehigh tied eventual league champion Army and defeated finalist Navy.
 
For as much as Heather improved between her freshman and sophomore years, her greatest growth according to Coach Lambinus came leading into her junior and senior campaigns.
 
"As a junior, I saw Heather's love for the game of soccer grow," said Lambinus. "She was introduced to the international game during her summer internship in London and it really took hold."
 
The Mountain Hawks lost their first four Patriot League games last year, but pulled off an incredible late-season run. They beat Bucknell, eventual league champion Colgate and Holy Cross to advance to their second Patriot League Tournament in three years.
 
Heather moved from defense to midfield for her senior season and has shown her versatility from game-to-game, or even within a game.
 
This season has featured its ups and downs. The Mountain Hawks are understandably disappointed they couldn't make it three league tournament appearances over the last four years, but the season certainly had its fair share of highlights. The team won the St. Mary's Tournament, captured Patriot League victories over Loyola and Army, and hopes to end the season with a Senior Day victory over Holy Cross.
 
"I think we came in really strong this preseason, had a really good team and we still have a really good team," said Heather.
 
"I'm really proud of when we went to California and were able to win the tournament there, however many miles away from home," she continued. "It was really good that we could get wins out on the road in such a different environment."
 
Heather and her classmates will leave Lehigh with two Patriot League Tournament appearances highlighted by the Patriot League Title as freshmen. All six have played key roles in the program's success.
 
"As a class, we've grown to be really unique individuals," said Camperson. "We work really well together and exhibit great leadership. I think the younger girls really look up to us. We're comforting for them, but when it comes time to practice and play games, we're one of the hardest-working groups out there."
 
The fact that Heather's career has come at Lehigh is extra special for her entire family.
 
"I remember going to a Lehigh-Lafayette game when I was little and not necessarily knowing the significance," she said. "I just remember thinking this is where my dad went to school."
 
Heather's mother attended Muhlenberg and was part of ROTC at Lehigh. Her brother Sean graduated from Lehigh in 2011, as did his wife so the Lehigh connections are endless.
 
"Lehigh has been a staple name in my household," she said. "I grew up with Lehigh."
 
"Thirty years ago when I was a student-athlete here, I would never have imagined that I'd have a son, daughter in law and daughter coming to Lehigh, graduating and succeeding academically and athletically," said Brian. "When I was in the military, I was always a big advocate for Lehigh when we'd do university nights around the various instillations."
 
Having a son and daughter at Lehigh has helped Brian reconnect with members of administration.

"We were deployed for 20-plus years and never really had the opportunity to come back and visit Lehigh physically," he said. "However, in the last seven years, between the time our son was here and now with Heather, we have more Lehigh memorabilia and merchandise than you could imagine. Even our dog has a Lehigh bandana."
 
Heather has continued a family tradition and will take everything she's learned at Lehigh into the real world.
 
Although a big reason she came to Lehigh was the comfort factor of her brother, the diversity of Lehigh has helped her grow the most.
 
"Lehigh has helped me in terms of meeting different people," she said. "I came from a small town in Virginia. Coming to Lehigh, as with any college, you get to meet people from so many different backgrounds, especially in athletics."
 
Heather's family is full of athletes, so it's fitting that she hopes to stay in athletics.
 
"I want to go into some type of management, preferably sports management," she said. "I think just being involved with athletics and seeing different people, coupled with the courses I've taken within the business school, have really helped me understand more about business and management."

"Heather becomes very focused on accomplishing goals that she sets for herself," said Lambinus. "Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to discover the best way to achieve those goals. Heather has learned a lot about herself during her four years at Lehigh and is a better soccer player, student and person because of it. I am confident she will be very successful when she finds the career that inspires her the same way soccer has."

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13