One of the most clinical attacking forces in recent Western Pennsylvania collegiate and pre-professional soccer history is officially heading to the professional ranks.
Duquesne University and current Steel City FC forward Maya Matesa has signed a professional contract for the upcoming 2026-27 season with Apollon Ladies F.C., a top-flight club based in Limassol, Cyprus, competing in the Cypriot First Division.
he signing caps an extraordinary developmental trajectory for Matesa, who starred both on the Bluff and on the summer semi-pro circuits. Reflecting on her growth, Matesa credited her time in the city for preparing her for the leap to Europe.
“I learned a lot from my time at Duquesne and in the summer (with Steel City),” Matesa told Pittsburgh Soccer Now’s Zac Weiss.
“It helped me grow and gain confidence. Being around different coaches, teammates, and competition taught me a lot and helped me improve both on and off the field.”
A Historic, Record-Breaking Final Season on the Bluff
The Lebanon, Ohio native concluded a legendary career at Duquesne by turning in arguably the most prolific individual offensive season in program history.
During her senior campaign, Matesa completely rewrote the Dukes’ record books, establishing single-season program records in goals (17) and points (39), while adding five assists across 19 matches. Her relentless attacking mindset saw her log 94 shots, with 45 finding the target.
Her historic numbers caught the eye of the entire landscape. Head coaches voted Matesa the 2025 Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year, anchoring her spots on the A-10 All-Conference First Team and the All-East Region Second Team.
Nationally, Matesa ranked in the NCAA Division I top 10 in multiple statistical categories:
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4th in shots per contest (4.95)
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4th in shots on goal per contest (2.27)
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7th in points per game (2.05)
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8th in game-winning goals (6)
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8th in total goals (17)
Cemented in the Duquesne History Books
Matesa leaves the Duquesne program as its all-time goal-scoring queen. She sets the new career program benchmark with 29 career goals, while finishing second all-time in points (69) and shots (209). She is also tied for second all-time on the Bluff in game-winning goals (9) and tied for seventh in career assists (11).
Her explosive senior year featured six multi-goal performances, including a brilliant hat trick against Mercyhurst and a program-record 11-shot single-game performance against Youngstown State at Rooney Field. Her performances earned her three Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors—the most ever recorded by a single female student-athlete in Duquesne history.
Excellence On and Off the Pitch
Matesa’s professional leap is a massive feather in the cap for Duquesne head coach Jessica Giegucz, who guided the Dukes to a spectacular 12-5-2 overall record (7-3 in the A-10) and a dominant home slate at Rooney Field in her first year at the helm.
Critically, Matesa leaves Pittsburgh having taken care of business in the classroom as well. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and maintaining a stellar 3.52 cumulative GPA, she was named to the 2025 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Scholar All-America Third Team and the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team.
Now, she takes her lethal finishing ability and clinical pace to an Apollon Ladies side with consistent European aspirations.
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