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Bowling Green State University Athletics
From Mountaineer to Falcon: Lamparty finds her fit at Bowling Green
November 05, 2025 | Women's Soccer
Transferring between division one sports schools can be a tough transition for many athletes, as it was for BGSU women's soccer junior defender Gabby Lamparty. However, the move has been seamless.
Lamparty started her collegiate career at West Virginia University, a decision driven by a visit to the college's campus.
"I truly just kind of fell in love with the campus, fell in love with the coaches, the players, it was just very welcoming," said Lamparty. "They are a very close united team, and that's exactly where I kind of wanted to be."
The decision for Lamparty to transfer to BGSU was largely based on the coaching staff she would be able to work with, women's soccer head coach Chris Fox being at the forefront of that.
"I love the style and philosophy that Chris coaches with," said Lamparty. "Coming here, I knew that this [was] a place where I could reach my full potential."
While at West Virginia, Lamparty would play for a total of 658 minutes throughout two seasons. In her one regular season so far at BGSU, Lamparty has played in a total of 1,886 minutes, a large representation of the new opportunity available wearing orange and brown.
"You always come into college wanting to play and everything, and kind of finding my opportunity here and earning those minutes has been lovely," said Lamparty.
Although she has only been with the team for a few months, Lamparty has been touted as a leader by her coaches.
"She's a natural leader. I think she inspires those around her and communicates very, very well," said Fox.
Even from a defender position, Lamparty has proven herself to be a two-way threat this season for the Falcons. In the year Lamparty has recorded three goals and three assists, ranking her second among the team in total points with nine.
This two-way presence from Lamparty was something that the coaching staff took notice of during the transfer portal recruitment process.
"Some of the reasons we liked her, right, were the physical side of the game, the defensive side, her aerial ability both defensively and offensively," said Fox. "She has kind of brought a little bit of everything."
One change that Lamparty has had to adjust her play style to is the type of defensive role she plays. While playing for West Virginia Lamparty, she primarily saw her minutes played in the defensive midfield. At Bowling Green, she has seen a shift into the center back position.
For a change in play style like this to work, it requires a player with a high level of talent, the ability to work under pressure, and trust in the process.
"When you are coming in having played defensive mid, to then come in and play in the center back within our system, that's not easy," Fox said. "There is a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the center back because they've got the ball on their feet. They've got people pressing them from all angles, they're given different spaces, lots of traps and everything else."
The idea of being under pressure is something that the Canfield, Ohio, native has used as a way to adapt to her new environment.
"Under that pressure, one of two things can happen, right? It's either going to make diamonds or you're going to melt," said Fox. "I think throughout the season she has just been resilient, has been very coachable, wants to learn, wants to grow, wants to get better, and I think that has been evident on the field."
That same word "resilient" is the same phrase that Lamparty used when asked to give one word to describe herself.
"I'm a big fighter, I fight for my people and just stay on course, stay [and] trust the process," said Lamparty.
One part of the game that gives Lamparty the motivation to keep fighting comes not from the action on the field, but from the community that backs the Orange and Brown.
"The city [Bowling Green] itself is great, Taylor [Green] has said multiple times, the community really comes and backs us up," said Lamparty. "We are always doing things within the community too, and just wanting to play for those people."
On Oct. 28, Lamparty was awarded the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Defensive Player of the Week, marking the first time she has won the award.
As Lamparty continues to anchor the Falcons' defense, her resilience and drive reflect the same spirit that defines Bowling Green soccer — one built on trust, growth and an unshakable will to compete.
