05/23/2025
When you hear the name “Lombardo” in St. Louis, you think of great food 😋 and sports. When you hear the name Karen Lombardo-Baker, you also think of women’s soccer ⚽️
On this , Jen Siess On Air caught up with this trailblazer who, with her peers, found a way to pitch up and play no matter the uniforms, conditions, resources, or fans. As a member of the first intercollegiate women's soccer team for the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Karen was a 3x leading goal scorer, helping UMSL Women's Soccer burst onto the college soccer scene with rapid success, then finished at Cardinal Newman with All-American honors.
After rounding out her playing career with STL Championship Cup and Regional/Open National teams … she got the coaching bug - assistant at Incarnate Word Academy (5 trips to the Final Four with 2 Missouri State titles) - women’s head coach at St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley (3 Conference titles and 2 NJCAA Championships) - first AND youngest woman to receive the NJCAA Coach of the Year Award TWICE!
Listen in for this Saint Louis Soccer Hall of Famer's soccer start story, what Karen has gotten from and given to the game, and wisdom for players and parents just starting their soccer journeys.
🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0UtUCmSS7CI6FQ1LwynMyE?si=NHrRe1B8THiHrtG8xdYJ7Q
The Soccer Dad-Pod, Lombardo's Restaurant, UMSL Athletics, Incarnate Word Red Knight