Allison Danielle Pantuso (born June 30, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for USL Super League club Lexington SC. Pantuso played college soccer for the Oregon State Beavers before starting her professional career overseas, playing for European clubs FF Lugano, Issy, KuPS, and IFK Kalmar. She has also previously played for Brooklyn FC.
Early life Pantuso was born and raised in Thousand Oaks, California, as one of two children of Nick and Kelly Pantuso. She started her soccer career as a midfielder and captained both her Oaks Christian High school team and Eagles SC club team. With Oaks Christian, Pantuso helped the squad win the CIF Southern California title in her junior year and second place as a senior. She was twice named to the All-Maramonte League First Team and once to the Division 2 First Team.
College career Pantuso played four seasons with the Oregon State Beavers soccer program. She had a splashy start to her OSU career, tallying a brace in her collegiate debut on August 21, 2015. She also scored an overtime match-winner against Kansas, helping Oregon State secure victory in their first ever match against the Jayhawks. Additionally, she contributed 3 assists despite never earning a start in her freshman year.
Pantuso's role soon grew, and she started all of Oregon State's matches in her next two seasons of play. She was a Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention in both years and was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week in October 2017. As a senior, Pantuso bagged the OSU captaincy and also earned MVP honors. She also was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team. In the end, Pantuso made 71 appearances and scored 4 goals in her time as a Beaver.
Club career
European beginnings In June 2019, Pantuso signed her first professional contract with FF Lugano 1976 in the Swiss Women's Super League, inking a one-year deal. She made multiple appearances as a member of Lugano, including two in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Pantuso scored her first two professional goals with the Swiss club, including one in a 2–0 victory over BSC YB Frauen.
In 2020, Pantuso went on to move clubs and play for French first-division side GPSO 92 Issy for one season. She starred in 18 league matches as Issy fought to avoid relegation to the Seconde Ligue. On July 6, 2021, Pantuso signed with KuPS of the Finnish Kansallinen Liiga. She was brought in as an intended replacement for injured teammate Emmaliina Tulkki. Pantuso played in 11 matches for KuPS and managed to score twice.
IFK Kalmar Pantuso then joined Damallsvenskan club IFK Kalmar. She scored her first goal with the club on April 1, 2022, netting a header in a 3–1 win over AIK. During her time in Kalmar, she consumed canrenone from a doctor-prescribed medication and was subsequently dealt an 18-month doping suspension. Pantuso, who had previously received suspension exemption in other countries, managed to shorten her sentence to 6 months. She completed the remainder of her suspension in the United States.
Brooklyn FC On July 25, 2024, Pantuso signed with American club Brooklyn FC ahead of the inaugural USL Super League season. She tallied her first USLS goal on October 15, outjumping Carolina Ascent FC defender Sydney Studer to score in a 1–1 draw with the Ascent. At the end of December 2024, Pantuso was named to the USL Super League Team of the Month after winning 12 duels and recording a passing accuracy of 80%. She completed her single season with Brooklyn as an Iron woman, playing every minute of the 28-game campaign.
Lexington SC Pantuso signed with USL Super League club Lexington SC on June 30, 2025. She debuted for the club on August 23, playing all 90 minutes and scoring a goal in Lexington's opening-day draw with Fort Lauderdale United FC. She missed just one match as Lexington posted the best defense in the league and won the Players' Shield with the best record. After the season, she earned first-team All-League honors and was named the USL Super League Defender of the Year. In the playoffs, she helped Lexington win the league championship, becoming the first team to complete the league double.
Career statistics Club
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupPlayoffsContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFF Lugano 19762019–20Swiss Women's Super League52——2Appearances in the UEFA Champions League072GPSO 92 Issy2020–21Division 1 Féminine1801Appearances in the Coupe de France0——190KuPS2021 Kansallinen Liiga112———112IFK Kalmar2022Damallsvenskan2221Appearances in the Svenska Cupen0——232Brooklyn FC2024–25USL Super League281———281Lexington SC2025–26272—20—292Career total11192020201179
Honors and awards
Lexington SC USL Super League: 2025–26 USL Super League Players' Shield: 2025–26
Individual USL Super League Defender of the Year: 2025–26 USL Super League All-League First Team: 2025–26
References
External links
Allison Pantuso at the Oregon State Beavers