Settled in a log cabin on the top of a ski mountain surrounded by woods, rivers and bears, one might say that Louisiana native Joseph Lapira is a long way from home.
About 4,000 miles to be more specific.
After three record-setting seasons at Notre Dame that included winning the program's first-ever Hermann Trophy in 2006, Lapira opted for the fjords of Norway over the fertile plains of America and Major League Soccer (MLS). Tagged as a top prospect for the MLS Superdraft, Lapira was put off by the MLS requirement that all players must sign at least a four-year contract.
