For students, Lebanon Valley College is many different things: It’s transformative, challenging, and rewarding. For LVC women’s soccer player Bridgett Finn ’21, it’s a place to call home.

Finn, who’s in her junior year at The Valley, originally attended DeSales University. The Lebanon native admitted that LVC was her second choice, only because she wanted to go a little further from home.

During her first semester with the Bulldogs, the Flying Dutchmen hosted DeSales in a soccer match. At that moment, Finn, who grew up 10 minutes down the road and trained here for years to prepare for collegiate soccer, knew something felt strange about not being at LVC since it’s always felt like home to her.

“Despite DeSales being a well-respected institution, I changed my career choice to athletic training. To pursue a career in the field, I couldn’t continue my education at DeSales. I was happy I made that choice early in my education,” said Finn.

The main reason that LVC attracted Finn was its proximity to home. Through elementary school to high school, she attended numerous soccer camps at Herbert Field. Also, LVC offers an incredible five-year Master of Athletic Training Program, and she could transfer in and be on track with the rest of her classmates.

Additionally, when she was looking to transfer, construction had begun for the state-of-the-art Arnold Health Professions Pavilion, home to the Athletic Training, Exercise Science, and Physical Therapy programs.

During her sophomore year, Finn refined her career path and entered the Exercise Science Program with plans to become a collegiate women’s soccer coach. “I also had the opportunity to continue my soccer career if I transferred,” she said. “Playing soccer is a huge part of my life, and I wasn’t ready to give it up, and I love being a part of a team. I knew LVC was right for me, academically and socially.”

Read the rest of Finn’s story on our LVC Athletics website.