Pitt women’s soccer adds Albany transfer Leah Pais

The Pitt women’s soccer team added a talented attacker on Thursday, as Panthers coach Randy Waldrum announced the transfer of Albany forward Leah Pais to Pitt.

Pais led the Great Danes in scoring, with five goals in 14 games in 2019. She started 12 of those games and logged two assists as well to bring her point total for the year up to 12. After helping the team to a 9-6-3 record as a freshman, she was named the 2019 Rookie of the Year by the America East Conference.

”As a staff we are very excited about the addition of Leah,” Pitt associate head coach Ben Waldrum said in a statement. “She had tremendous success last season being named Rookie of the Year in the American East Conference and winning the Young Player of the Year Award in Ontario’s League 1. She’ll only continue to grow and improve in our environment here at Pitt.”

”The qualities that Leah possess on the ball are first class,” Waldrum added. “She can create on her own individually as an attacker, but the special part of her game is her playmaking ability to create goalscoring chances for others. Leah has a high-level soccer IQ that really fits our style of play, and she’ll have an immediate impact in our program.”

As Waldrum noted, Pais was previously named the Young Player of the Year in Ontario’s League 1, which is Canada’s top amateur and semi-pro league. The native of Mississauga, Ontario, also won a championship at St. Marcellinus Secondary School in her hometown and played alongside current Panthers Anna Bout and Amanda West.

Pais is one of 10 new additions to the Panthers roster ahead of the 2020 season, as Waldrum previously added Hailey Davidson as a transfer from Oklahoma as well as incoming freshmen Nyla Allen, Ione Fetsko, Eva Frankovic, Hannah Kynch, Chloe Minas, Chantelle Parker, Emily Yaple and Zaria Stevenson.