Pepperdine University Athletics

From the 2016 Hall of Fame program:

At 5 feet 4 inches, Anna Picarelli did not fit the mold of the prototypical goalkeeper, but she refused to let that stop her from becoming one of the top women’s soccer players in Pepperdine history or from having a terrific professional and international career.
 
After graduating from Saint Joseph High School, the Downey, California, native arrived at Pepperdine in the fall of 2002. She took over the starting position midway through her freshman year and holds most of the school records at the goalkeeper position.
 
She was in goal during the most successful four-year run in program history, as the Waves won their first WCC title (2002), made two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (2002 and 2005), went to the NCAA Tournament all four years and posted a record of 56-19-9 (.601).
 
Picarelli was the goalkeeper of record in 45 of those victories, which set a school record that has since been broken. She still maintains most of the rest of Pepperdine’s career goalkeeper records, including total saves (319), save percentage (.846), goals-against average (0.81) and solo shutouts (32).
 
She would receive All-WCC second team honors as a junior and senior in 2004 and 2005, and honorable mention as a freshman in 2002.
 
During her freshman season of 2002, Picarelli became the starter early during WCC play. The Waves ran off eight straight victories after she made her first start in a win against Gonzaga and she would be named WCC Player of the Month after going 4-0 with a 0.22 goals-against average in October. Picarelli helped the Waves to victories over Milwaukee and Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament before a Round of 16 loss to Michigan. Pepperdine finished with school records of 18 wins and a #5 end-of-season national ranking.
 
The Waves also finished with national rankings of #20 in 2003 and #15 in 2005. As a senior, the Waves began the season with six straight wins, then won five in a row toward the end of the season, including victories over Mississippi and Samford in the NCAA Tournament. The Waves’ run ended in the Round of 16 against top-seeded North Carolina, despite a personal-best 14 saves by Picarelli against the Tar Heels.
 
Picarelli graduated from Pepperdine in 2006 with a degree in advertising.
 
Picarelli had the opportunity to train with a U.S. Under-21 National Team camp after her senior season. Her soccer career would continue overseas in Italy with the club Bardolino Verona. In addition to winning three Italian League championships and two Italian Cup titles, she would play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2008 and 2009.
 
Also, thanks to her Italian-born father, she was able to become eligible to play for Italy and she made her debut in 2008 with the national team. Picarelli was the starting goalkeeper at the 2009 European Championships, which included a stunning victory over England and a spot in the quarterfinals against eventual winner Germany. She nearly qualified for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup but Italy lost to the United States 2-0 in a final two-match playoff.
 
Picarelli returned home to play club soccer in 2009, appearing for such teams as the Los Angeles Legends, Ajax America, Pali Blues and the Seattle Sounders.
 
Picarelli joined the coaching staff at Simon Fraser University, located in Burnaby, British Columbia, in 2014. She is married to Cameron Thomas.