By Annie Moore

Louisville, Kentucky is far from Goshen, New York. College is a big transition from High School. Division I collegiate soccer is a completely different animal than club soccer. These changes are all being experienced by one freshman on this year’s Cardinal women’s soccer program, midfielder Chatham DeProspo.

DeProspo started the transition strongly, becoming the first person, and first woman, to score a goal in the new $18.5 million Lynn Stadium.

“I can’t put it into words,” DeProspo said. “It’s the best feeling ever. I was hugging Kari (Weinland) non-stop after the assist she gave me. I couldn’t have done it without her. But it’s an amazing feeling, and I’m truly blessed to have done that.”

This was DeProspo’s first look at a campus that is embracing soccer, along with the rest of the city and the country. When the goal went in and she turned around, she was embraced by 5,000 screaming Cardinal faithfuls- a crowd larger than she’d ever experienced.

“I haven’t been in a better environment ever, playing soccer,” DeProspo said. “I had never seen that many people at a women’s soccer game at all. So, I was very impressed, and I know I’m part of a good community, a very loving community. When I chose Louisville, I knew it was because the community is all about the school, but actually getting to see it was amazing.”

Amongst the noise and chaos, though, were a couple of friendly faces: her mom, Catherine Bartlett, and her dad, Bill DeProspo. Her parents weren’t just there for the first game, though. They have made every game she’s ever played. Even when she played in Florida, her parents would fly down to watch her play, and she said they plan on being in the stands for every game at Lynn Stadium this year, too.

“I am who I am because of them,” DeProspo said. “There’s never a game that my parents have not been at. I went to boarding school in Florida for three years, and they were still at every single game. My mom drove 20 hours to come, or my dad would fly down. In college, they’re doing the same thing. They’ll be at every game. I think with that love and support, I haven’t seen it in any other family. I do think mine’s the best out there, and I love my parents to death, and my two brothers.”

It is that connection to her family that drives her aspirations, not only on the field but also in the classroom. Chatham is a Political Science major and very driven to success in the classroom, much due to the influence of her family.

“[Political Science] is actually something that runs in my family,” DeProspo said. “I’ve been interested in it for a while, kind of picking it up from them. I always have a strong point of view, and I like debating my point of view. It has to do with the real world; it’s your responsibility as a citizen. You should know about the world and what’s going on.”

The head coach of the women’s soccer team, Karen Ferguson-Dayes, noted that DeProspo has a bright future with many tools at her disposal to make her effective at the defensive-mid position.

“There’s so many things about Chatham that I like,” Ferguson-Dayes said. “She’s very technical. Her speed of play is fantastic for a young kid, to be playing as fast, to have the vision that she has. To make the transition from the club and high school environment to the college environment as fast as she has. We knew she was going to be able to do that, we just didn’t know it would be the first game of the season. On game day she is definitely ready to go.”

Ferguson-Dayes says her only problem could be harnessing her energy and committing to all of the work it takes to win. As a freshman, she has a lot on her plate, but if she focuses, the sky is the limit.

“Chatham is really good,” Ferguson-Dayes said. “I think she could get herself on an All-ACC freshman roster. If Chatham wants to go and play at the next level, whether that be after college overseas, or whether that’s with the youth national team, that’s a decision she’s going to have to make for sure. But she’s absolutely talented enough for that to be in her future, if she wants it.”

What DePospro will do in the next four years is unknown to all of us, including herself. But if the first goal in Lynn Stadium is any indication, she’s got a bright future in front of the bright lights of the soccer world.