International Influence on Pitt Women’s Soccer

PITTSBURGH – Soccer is commonly referred to as the world's game with the Pitt women's team embracing that mantra for the 2025 season. The Panthers roster features 13 international athletes as well as a group from the United States that features players from California to New Jersey.

The tandem of technical director Randy Waldrum and first-year head coach Ben Waldrum along with assistant coaches Jesse Goleman and Brianna Alleyne have rebuilt the roster through the international ranks, the transfer portal, and with an exciting group of U.S. high school talents.

OH CANADA (4)

Leading returning scorer Magali Gagne (4 goals, 2 assists) is one of four Canadians on the roster along with returnee Sofia Doheny (Montreal, Quebec), Illinois transfer Mya Archibald (Fall River, Nova Scotia), and incoming freshman Adi Bianchin (Oakville, Ontario).

NIGERIAN INFLUENCE (4)

Randy Waldrum's time as head coach of the Nigerian National Team has already paid dividends with Deborah Abiodun earning All-ACC honors in both seasons at Pitt before signing with the Washington Spirit (NWSL). Returning letterwinner Celine Ottah (Aba, Nigeria), along with a trio of talented newcomers – Adoo Philomina Yina (Makurdi, Benue, Nigeria), Hannah Yusuf (Igarra, Edo State, Nigeria), and Okah Adaobi Judith (Ebonyi, Nigeria) – will have the opportunity to build on Abiodun's success at Pitt.

FRENCH CONNECTION (2)

Mariama Dabo (Paris, France) joined the team as a transfer from Jacksonville where she payed 34 games (28 starts) over the past two seasons. The Panthers also bring in freshman Claire Pannier-Jacquemart (Toulouse, France) from Toulousse FC. Gagne and Doheny can assist with any needed language gaps as both are from the Montreal, Quebec area, where French is the predominant language.

THREE MORE FROM ACROSS THE POND (3)

Pitt grabbed talented goal-scorer Alia Jaidi (Casablanca, Morocco) from Barry after she earned DII Second Team All-South Region honors in 2024. She has totaled 28 career goals over four seasons of college soccer. Newcomers Holly Tickle (Preston, England) and Roos Wittgen (Helmond, Netherlands) add to the international influence on the Panther squad.