‘It felt great:’ Katie Zailski relishes her return to Pitt Women’s Soccer

Katie Zailski didn’t mince any words.

Last season was difficult. She spent the entire 2025 collegiate soccer year sidelined after recovery from a season-ending injury. She watched a team start off slow and then find momentum and confidence throughout the year.

But Zailski didn’t just sit back and watch the games; she, despite not being on the pitch, used her voice. She helped mentor a very new team, backed up last year’s lone captain Olivia Lee in team meetings and she helped then-freshman Sophie Rourke adjust to the college level.

Zailski was around, but wasn’t able to get on the pitch. However, the injury is behind her and now she is back for the University of Pittsburgh. She played all 90 minutes on Wednesday’s season opener against Youngstown State, in the Panthers’ 2-1 win at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

“It felt great to be out there,” Zailski said post-game. “Last year was really hard because soccer is my happy place. It was hard to be away from it. But I’m just happy to be be back, lead my team and hopefully lead them to a great seasons and a deep tournament run.”

Pitt women’s soccer head coach Ben Waldrum said that Zailski returning is “key” for the team.

“She’s key for us,” Waldrum said. “She’s a veteran player and has a clear picture of what we want from her out of the back. Her leadership is invaluable back there.”

Zailski, who is a fifth-year player, was recently named one of four team captains for the Panthers. The others are last year’s skipper Lee, along with senior transfer Claire Jones and junior Lola Abraham.

“It felt great to be named a team captain. All four of us are just natural born leaders,” she said. “We all have our strengths and I think we really balance each other out well. [Liv] is glad to have some help this year… We only want what’s best for the team, so if we have to play bad cop, then it is what it is.”

Leading an experienced backline

Three of the four Pitt Panthers captains are from the backline.

Zailski is the oldest, with Lee and Jones being seniors in their fourth year of collegiate soccer. However, there is some new youth on the defense, as well. Elli Johnson joins the team as a freshman, and got to spend time training with Zailski and Lee in the spring. Rourke returns for her second season with the Panthers, and gained experience in the offseason with USL W-League side Buffalo. Meanwhile, Mya Archibad is a senior, who can slot in on the left or the right.

Zailski said the team is primarily running a four-back defense, but can adjust to a three-back or five-back if needed.

“We like to get our backs forward,” Zailski said. “That’s kind of our identity. We’re hungry to score, whether it’s our center back or it’s our No. 9. We just want to get forward as much as possible to help get on the scoresheet.”

A player that Zailski didn’t feature with last year, and got to on Wednesday, is Mariama Dabo. The senior from Paris began the match at the No. 6 position, and stayed there for the entire first half. She experienced a bit of cramping in the second half, and Maci Tew, a freshman, took over the position. The No. 6 features as a defensive midfielder. If Zailski goes up, Dabo or Tew will go back, creating constant movement.

“I’m honestly really proud of Mari’s growth. Coming from where she was at in Jacksonville to an ACC school is a big adjustment. she worked so hard in the spring and summer. In the spring, she was a completely new player. I trust giving her the ball with five defenders on her. She’s really stepped up to playing in such a big league.”

Another player that Zailski is forming a bond with is Jones — the two are even roommates.

“We live together, and sometimes I forget that she just moved in,” Zailski said. “We clicked instantly, like we’ve known each other for years. She’s great on and off the field. I think she brings a good maturity to the team. She has that ‘tough love’ that she can give everyone. She is a player that just wants the best for everyone and if she needs to give the tough truth, it’s going to be said.”

Mentoring the youngsters

The Pitt freshman class is a whopping 10 youngsters.

Zailski, along with her other upperclassmen and captains, will provide something more invaluable than minutes on the pitch: mentorship. The group, the veteran defender said, came in and “blew my mind away.”

“We normally have a period of time where they need to get acclimated, but honestly, thye didn’t need that,” she said. “They stepped in and were ready to work right away. I think they knew that there was a spot for them in the starting lineup. They’ve fought for it. I really like the fighting mentality from everyone.”

Zailski added that nobody — freshman or senior — feels “satisfied.”

“Even if someone earns a spot one day, it could be taken by somebody else the next day. I love the competitiveness that they’re bringing to the team.”

Up next: Texas

The Panthers have a date with Texas on Sunday afternoon. While the Panthers have a new (and young) team, Texas has a brand new coaching staff, led by former NCAA champion with UCLA Margueritte Bates.

Zailski said that, after the Youngstown win, the team isn’t satisfied with just two goals.

“We’re not satisfied with the win [tonight],” she said. “We know that we have to be hungry to score and our chances can’t just come from corners. I think going into these next few days of practice, we’re going to be really focused on finishing. Hopefully, everyone shows up ready to score some goals against Texas. That’s the big team on our non-conference schedule, but we’ll be prepared for it.”

The Panthers will host the Longhorns at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Sunday, at 12 PM.

Rachael Palmer

The sport of soccer is Rachael Palmer's area of expertise. Palmer covers high school and women's soccer, with occasional work with Pitt Women's Soccer. For the last five years, she has been the Color Commentator for the Pitt Women's Soccer program. Elsewhere, she contributes for The Equalizer Soccer, a dedicated women's soccer website. Palmer is a member of the official NWSL Media Association and the North American Soccer Reporters, serving as the NASR's President after four years in the role of Communications Director and Vice President.