Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach announced the addition of Team IMPACT signee Camryn Villagrana to the Nittany Lions’ roster on Sunday evening, August 10, 2025.
“When we evaluate any recruit, we determine whether or not they should join our program based on their toughness, strength, heart, and determination,” Dambach said. “Camryn embodies all of these characteristics in so many ways, and I could not be more proud to welcome her, and the entire Villagrana family into our Penn State women’s soccer program. Team IMPACT is such a special organization that provides an unparalleled experience for children battling illness and their families, and we are beyond blessed to have Camryn on this incredible journey with us.”
Villagrana, a native of State College, Pennsylvania, is a seven-year-old battling leukemia who will enter a multi-year partnership with the Nittany Lion women’s soccer program as she continues her battle. The Nittany Lions officially welcomed Villagrana into the Penn State women’s soccer family Sunday night at Hawbaker Pavilion and the Penn State Golf Courses, hosting a signing ceremony featuring Camryn, her father, Mike, her mother, Tiffany, and her older brother Dominic. The Penn State coaching staff and Nittany Lion roster joined in the festivities, which culminated in Villagrana signing her official letter of intent to join the program.
Team IMPACT is a non-profit organization dedicated to matching children battling severe illness or disabilities with collegiate athletic programs. The organization’s mission is to guide children and teams alike in a mutually beneficial relationship of belonging, empowerment, and resilience, with the core values of empathy, camaraderie, resilience, boldness, and championing children at its heart. Founded in the spring of 2011, Team IMPACT has matched hundreds of children with college sport programs in the 14-plus years of its existence.
Penn State women’s soccer is the seventh Nittany Lion Athletics program to partner with Team IMPACT. The Nittany Lion women’s soccer team joins PSU football, men’s soccer, baseball, field hockey, women’s lacrosse and the defending national champion women’s volleyball program as one of seven teams that either currently partner with the organization or have partnered with the organization in the past.