Pitt Women’s Soccer lands Michigan State transfer/Pine-Richland alum Ava Boyd

Pitt women’s soccer had a great season last year and added a transfer with local ties to the region in Ava Boyd last Tuesday.

Boyd started her college career at Michigan State last season, but did not make any appearances. Michigan State won their second straight Big Ten regular season title last season and made it to the Sweet 16, before losing to No. 1 BYU in the Sweet 16.

Prior to Michigan State, Boyd starred for Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pa. in northern Allegheny County, 20 to 25 miles north of Pitt. She would have a successful high school career, earning two All-Section selections and two All-WPIAL selections. She also played club soccer for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, earning ECNL All-Conference First Team honors in 2021 and both playing and scoring in the ECNL National Selection Game in 2022.

Boyd posted her commitment to Pitt women’s soccer last Tuesday, with the caption, “couldn’t stay away from home #h2p 💙💛”

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Boyd is the first incoming transfer for Pitt this offseason. The program has lost two players from last season in midfielder Fleming Dean, who transferred to Samford, and defender Lainie Fuchs, who went back to her native Austria to play professionally.

Pitt women’s soccer had the best season ever in 2023, making it to the ACC Tournament Semifinals and the Elite Eight for the first time. Great players like forward Amanda West, midfielders Landy Mertz, Chloe Minas and Anna Bout, as well as defender Ashton Gordon all played vital roles, but graduated at the end of the season, leading to opportunities for newer players to make an impact for the constantly improving program under head coach Randy Waldrum.

Pitt Women’s Soccer Roster 2024

Senior (One Year of Eligibility)
Forward Samiah Phiri
Forward Sarah Schupansky
Midfielder Ellie Coffield
Midfielder Keera Melenhorst
Defender Mackenzie Evers
Defender Ashley Moon

Junior (Two Years of Eligibility)
Forward Emily Cooper
Forward Margaret Wilde
Midfielder Briana Rodriguez
Defender Haylee Mersereau
Defender Katie Zailski
Goalkeeper Ellie Breech

Sophomore (Three Years of Eligibility)
Forward Ava Boyd (Michigan State)
Forward Evie Craven
Forward Sofia Doheny
Forward Paige Dziedzic
Forward Delaney Evers
Forward Aliya Gomes
Forward Kaitlyn Killinger
Forward Lucia Wells
Midfielder Deborah Abiodun
Midfielder Olivia Duray
Midfielder Emma Rhoades
Defender Olivia Lee
Defender Sage Seltzer
Defender Kaley Simqu
Goalkeeper Emily Edwards
Goalkeeper Emma Van Meter

Freshman (Four Years of Eligibility)
Forward Lola Abraham
Midfielder/Forward Rylee Keeley
Defender Coco Dorfman
Defender Emily Graeca
Defender Bella Haynes
Defender Erica Schneider
Defender Dakota Watterson

Outgoings
Midfielder Fleming Dean/transfer to Samford
Defended Lainie Fuchs/returned to Austria to play professionally