CCNY Athlete and Scholar With Big Goals

In the world of college soccer, some players stand out for their athletic prowess and also for their dedication and resilience. Laura Villatoro, a junior at the City College of New York (CCNY), is one of these remarkable athletes. She excels on the field as a forward and in her academics with double majors in behavioral neuroscience and music history. She hopes to have a career in medicine.

Villatoro’s journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to both her passions: soccer and neuroscience. Her life has revolved around soccer since her father, Manfredis, enrolled her in youth programs when she was a little girl.

“He’s a big soccer fanatic,” Villatoro said fondly. “I wouldn’t be the player I am without my dad. He’s taught me so much about everything. He has encouraged me since I was four years old to keep my love for soccer always, and that’s why I am here today.”

Soccer also, in a way, led to her career choice. When she was thirteen she suffered a concussion while playing on her youth academy soccer team in Farmingdale, Long Island. She was sidelined for three months and during this recovery period her interest in neuroscience blossomed. “Seeing how the neurologists tried to figure out a treatment plan, all the MRI scans they did, that was really interesting to me. It was nice to finally know what was going on,” she said. Cleared by her doctors, she returned to the soccer field.

After she graduated from high school in Farmingdale, she moved into The Towers dorm at CCNY in her freshman year. She wanted to be closer to school and avoid the daily commute. This dedication to her education and sport paid off. She proudly wears the captain’s armband for the CCNY women’s soccer team and recently completed a summer internship in neuroscience and research at the University of Rochester.

Last season was bittersweet for Villatoro and her teammates. The Beavers reached the finals of the 2022 CUNY Athletic Conference playoffs against John Jay, but lost a hard-fought battle, 1-0. It was a heartbreaking defeat, one that ignited Villatoro’s determination. During the fall 2023 season, CCNY managed to defeat the 2022 champions in a closely contested 4-3 match, with Villatoro contributing one goal and one assist.

Laura’s work ethic makes her a winning player.

In 11 matches this fall, Villatoro has already netted 12 goals and seven assists, including a remarkable performance against York, where she scored four goals, propelling her team to a resounding 8-0 victory.

Along with her father, she admires her mother Sandra and attributes her drive and determination to her mother’s influence. “She’s been there for me for everything, soccer, not soccer, school, everything.  She’s one of the hardest-working people I know, and I get my work ethic from her for sure,” Villatoro said fondly.

Her teammate, Amelia Cataldo, praised her as a strong leader who always gives her all in practice and on game day even though she is passionate about her academic subjects. “Laura is an extremely knowledgeable woman. She is taking on a complicated major and lights up whenever she gets to tell someone about it. Along with education, she has extensive knowledge of the game of soccer,” the sophomore goalkeeper said. “She understands her role as a player and our team’s strengths, and lets our team know how to thrive while attacking.”

On and off the soccer field, Laura is an example of an athlete-scholar in pursuit of excellence.