Pitt women’s soccer program revamps 2025 roster with 17 new signings

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women’s soccer program has reshaped its 2025 roster with a deep recruiting class, featuring three transfers as well as a talented group of international and domestic standouts.

The Panthers welcome 17 newcomers as they look for their sixth consecutive winning season and a return to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.

“Every new season brings fresh energy and a renewed sense of purpose,” said head coach Ben Waldrum. “This group of newcomers adds tremendous talent and character to our program. They’re hungry to compete, and I’m excited to see how they elevate the standard every single day. We can’t wait to get to work together and build on the strong foundation we’ve created.”

The Panthers return seven players with significant starting experience, including the core of its defense in senior goalie Ellie Breech, senior center back Katie Zailski, junior center back Olivia Lee, and junior outside back Lucia Wells.

Pitt opens full preseason training sessions next week with the season opener scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 14 against Xavier at Ambrose Urbanic Field. Full schedule for the 2025 season is available HERE.

TRANSFERS (3)

Mya Archibald I Defense I Fall River, Nova Scotia / Burnaby Central Secondary (Illinois) I Whitecaps Elite

• Two-year starter at Illinois … totaled 2,406 minutes over 28 matches (26 starts) … has one goal and three assists in her career … played on the 2024 FIFA World Cup Canadian Team … also played for Canada on the 2022 FIFA U17 World Cup Team … bronze medalist at the 2022 CONCACAF U17 Women’s Championship … earned a total of 16 caps at the international level, making 12 starts … played in seven matches at the CONCACAF U20 Championships … qualified for 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Mariama Dabo I Midfield I Paris, France / Sports Etudes Academy (Jacksonville) I PSG U19

• Started 28 of 34 career games at Jacksonville … has played 2,262 minutes of collegiate soccer … one goal on 19 shots … played with PSG U19  team … was an ultimate frisbee champion in middle school

Alia Jaidi I Forward I Casablanca, Morocco / Maimonide (Coffeyville CC / Barry)

• Veteran player with 28 goals and six assists in her career … totaled 14 goals in two seasons at Barry University (Division II) … earned D2SCCA Second Team All-South Region, academic all-district and First Team All-Sunshine State Conference honors in 2024 … led the SSC in goals per game with 10 in 14 outings last season … was third in points per game (1.43) and fourth in game-winning goals (3) … two-time All-KJCCC all-conference honoree at Coffeyville CC

International (7)

Adi Bianchin I Forward I Oakville, Ontario (Thomas A. Blakelock) I Oakville SC

• Helped Canada to gold medal at the 2025 Concacaf U-20 Championship … scored a goal in a 3-2 win over Mexico in the championship match … selected for the 2024 U17 Canadian National team … helped the team to a third-place finish at the 2024 U17 Concacaf Women’s Championship … had three goals in five games at the U17 Concacaf Championship … received the Rookie Athlete of the Year award in 2022 … also named Oakville Female Athlete of the Year in 2022 … grew up participating in soccer, basketball and track

Adaobi Judith Okah I Forward I Ebonyi, Nigeria I Remo Stars

• Represented Nigeria at both the U17 and U20 levels … scored game-winning goal in a 2-0 win over Uganda in the semifinals of the 2023 African Games … played for Rivers Angels in the Nigeria Women Football League … helped the team to third place finish in the 2023 NWFL Super Six … also played with the Edo Queens and Sunshine Queens in the NWFL … signed with FC Banik Ostrava (Czech Republic) in 2025.

Claire Pannier-Jacquemart I Defense I Toulouse, France (Lycée Déodat De Severac) I Toulouse FC

• Part of the Toulouse FC academy system … played in Division 1 matches against Clermont, Grenoble, Montpellier, and Nimes.

Holly Tickle I Midfield I Preston, England (Rainhill) I Liverpool FC

• Played for Liverpool FC from 2022-25 … Liverpool FC U21 Vice Captain and member of U21 Leadership Group in 2024-25 … helped Liverpool U21 to the 2024 County Cup … led Liverpool U16s to league title in 2023 … named Carr Hill High School Sports Personality of the Year in 2023 … represented Lancashire Schools FA from 2019-2023 … team captain in 2023 and vice captain in 2021 .. captain of England U15 Schoolgirls in 2021-22 … led Lancashire to English Schools Football National Trophy in 2020, 2022, and 2023 … captain of Blackburn Rovers FC in 2019, 2020, and 2021 … named Blackburn Rovers Player of the Year by both the managers and players in 2017 … Manager’s Player of the Year for Blackburn in 2016.

Roos Wittgen I Midfield I Helmond, Netherlands (Sint Joris College) I PSV Eindhoven

• Played for the professional sports academy of PSV in The Netherlands … ranked among the top 30 players in her age group in The Netherlands … was on standby list for KNVB U16 and U17 national teams.

Adoo Philomina Yina I Midfield  I Makurdi, Benue, Nigeria (Mkar Model College) I Nasarawa Amazons FC

• Has competed with the Nigerian U20 National Team since 2022 … named Player of the Match following a win over Korea in the FIFA U20 World Cup … made her debut with the Falconets Aug. 18, 2022 in the U20 World Cup

Hannah Yusuf I Defense I Igarra, Edo State, Nigeria (Folbim) I Confluence Queens

• Featured in the Nigerian U17 National Team … was set to play in the 2020 FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers before it was cancelled due to COVID … competed with the Confluence Queens, Rivers Angels, and Nasarawa Amazons.

HIGH SCHOOL (7)

Maya Bright I Forward I Philadelphia, Pa. (Episcopal Academy) I FC Delco

• Three-time First Team All-InterAC selection … two-time First Team All-Delco pick … named First Team All-Main Line in 2022 and 2023 … led Episcopal Academy to PAISAA state championship and InterAC championship in 2023 … named First Team All-Southeastern PA as a junior … U17 Second Team ECNL North Atlantic All-Conference selection in 2024 … U16 First Team ECNL North Atlantic All-Conference pick in 2023 … U15 First Team ECNL North Atlantic All-Conference selection in 2022.

Maya Bruce I Midfield I Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) I Penn Fusion

• Two-time first team all-conference pick at Unionville … led Penn Fusion to ECNL playoffs final four in 2024 … started every club game over her final three seasons … two-time state qualifier in track and field.

Katie Ellermeyer I Midfield I San Diego, Calif. (Scripps Ranch) I San Diego Surf

• Three-time first team all-district selection at Scripps Ranch … 2024 ECNL U17 Southwest First Team All-Conference … participated in US Youth National Team Talent ID center in 2023, 2024, and 2025 … attended the U.S. Women’s National Training Camp in Chula Vista, Calif. In 2022.

Hannah Minouge I Midfield I Brambleton, Va. (St. Paul VI Catholic / Independence) I Virginia Development Academy

• Top Drawer Soccer IMG Top 150 last three years … ranked No. 13 in the Mid-Atlantic Region by Top Drawer Soccer … club team (Virginia Development Academy) was ranked No. 6 in the country by Top Drawer Soccer … attended US Soccer Girls YNT ID Center 2021 and 2022 … invited to Girls Academy National Talent ID in 2022 … attended Girls Academy Mid-Atlantic Talent ID from 2021-2023 … Girls Academy National Champion 2022 … three-time Girls Academy Mid-Atlantic South Division Champion.

Sophie Rourke I Midfield I Amherst, N.Y. (Amherst Central) I WNY Flash

• MVP and captain of the Amherst soccer team as a junior and senior …. played on the varsity team for five seasons … 2024 Buffalo News All-Western New York Player of the Year … First All-Western New York in 2022, 2023, and 2024 … three-time all-state selection … three-time First Team ECIC ll pick …  named First Team All-Bee News in 2023 and 2024 … four-year caption for WNY Flash on ECNL circuit …  U17 Second Team Ohio Valley All-Conference selection in 2024 … played in the 2024 Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Game for the West team … ECNL First Team Ohio Valley All-Conference in 2022.

Ellie Rowlands I Midfield I Columbus, Ohio (Bishop Watterson) I Ohio Premier

• Two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference (ECNL) … participated in ’07 United State Youth National Team Regional ID Camp in 2021 … mother, Elizabeth, played soccer at Kentucky … father, Tommy, wrestled at Ohio State and was is a two-time NCAA champion and a two-time Olympic alternate … also has aunts who played softball at Ohio State and Kentucky as well as another aunt who played soccer at Kentucky … appeared on the Jimmy Fallon Show in the second grade for her invention Ellie’s Jellies.

Krystina Wolf I Goalie I Wayne, N.J. (DePaul Catholic) I STA

• Made her WPSL debut with STA in 2024 … participated in the Girls Academy National Talent ID event in 2024 …   Father, James, played football at Lafayette College … sister, Vanessa, plays soccer at Furman.