Dr. Erin Angelini ’17, D’19, recently achieved her dream of working in professional athletics, as the former Lebanon Valley College three-sport student-athlete accepted a position as the Head of Rehabilitation for the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

During her time in Annville, Angelini competed for Lebanon Valley’s Women’s Soccer, Cross Country, and Track & Field teams. She graduated from the College with Health Science and Spanish degrees in 2017 and earned a doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2019. The experiences Angelini gained during her LVC years contributed to landing a job in professional soccer.

“It’s been a lifelong aspiration to work in elite sports, and I’m incredibly excited to support the growing women’s sports movement and provide high-quality care to these athletes,” Angelini said. “As a young athlete, I looked up to the women playing for the U.S. National Team. … Now, applying the knowledge I gained from the LVC PT program, my experience as a soccer player at LVC, and my residency education, this is an amazing opportunity.”

As the Head of Rehabilitation, Angelini manages and cares for long-term injuries from the time of the injury through the player’s return to participation. She also assists other team members with day-to-day care and player injury prevention.

“It’s been a fantastic learning experience, particularly in how the interdisciplinary team works together to support our athletes,” Angelini said. “The Orlando Pride excels at attention to detail and player-centered care, which are very important to me in the return-to-play process. My favorite part of the job is transitioning athletes back to on-field sessions and integrating my soccer knowledge into the rehabilitation process. There’s nothing quite like seeing athletes return to the game after an injury.”

Angelini said her college education also prepared her for an 18-month residency to specialize in sports physical therapy at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she ultimately stayed for nearly four years. Following this experience, Angelini worked for two years as a Sports Physical Therapist at Marshall University, a Division I school in the Sunbelt Conference. Additionally, she has been involved in physical therapy school education at the University of Pittsburgh and Marshall University.

“LVC provided me with a strong foundation, both as a Physical Therapy student and as a student-athlete,” Angelini said. “It allowed me to participate in sports while being supported by professors who introduced key concepts that helped me succeed as a Physical Therapist immediately after graduation. Without this support, I would not have known about the opportunities in the sports physical therapy world.”

Angelini also fondly remembers competing for the Dutchmen, as a contributor to many LVC Women’s Soccer seasons that reached conference tournaments. Additionally, Angelini expressed that she was proud of being nominated for the Women’s Cross Country Rookie of the Year award as a fifth-year student, which was her first season running cross country competitively.

“Being an LVC student-athlete was an unforgettable experience,” Angelini said. “The friendships I formed during those years—especially through the challenges of long game schedules and intense training—are some of my life’s most cherished memories.”

 

Photo credit: Orlando Pride