Junior Gillianne Stewardson and alumni Holly Pascoe, both members of the women’s soccer program, joined with the newly formed Pittsburgh Riveters Soccer Club of the USL W-League this past week.

Stewardon and Pascoe both participated in an open tryout that began in December, eventually moving on to the invitational tryouts and ultimately earning roster spots.

“That tryout was the beginning of a long journey and both Holly and Gillianne caught the eye of our staff right away,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said in an article released by the team following the roster announcements.

Pascoe, who came to Point Park in 2022 as a graduate student, had 30 goals and 13 assists for a total of 73 points in two seasons with the Pioneers.

When the formation of the Riveters was first announced, Pascoe said she couldn’t be more excited for a women’s soccer team to be in the city of Pittsburgh.

“Being a part of the inaugural season is a privilege, and I am excited to contribute to the program to the best of my ability,” Pascoe said. “I am most looking forward to training under a professional regime and with extremely hard working and talented players. I’m excited to see how much I can grow as a player and person in this environment.”

Pascoe graduated with a masters degree in SAEM from Point Park in December 2023, but she said she felt her journey and time playing soccer was not quite over.

“I feel most like myself when I am training everyday and being a part of a team,” Pascoe said. “With a full-time job and other commitments in the area, I would not be able to train and play with a team outside of the city. When the Riveters try-outs were announced, I knew that this would be my best chance to continue playing competitively.”

Pascoe served as an assistant coach for Point Park’s women’s soccer team in the fall, an experience that she said has helped her to expand her knowledge of the game.

“Being a coach in Pittsburgh has broadened my network and deepened my roots in the city,” Pascoe said. “As a coach, I have been given the chance to view the game through a new lens. I have learned new skills in analysis and problem solving that I think will feed into my game as a player. I understand how tough it is to make decisions within a team, and honestly I am excited to be back on the other end of things for a short time.”

Pioneer Gillianne Stewardson, a junior studying criminal justice, shared her former teammate’s excitement with joining the Riveters. Coming from Campbell River, British Columbia, Stewardson said she is thrilled about a certain opportunity she has ahead.

“Being part of the Riveters’ inaugural season, in itself, is exciting, but it being my first time playing in America at this level is something I’m really looking forward to,” Stewardson said. “I can’t wait to play and train with a new group of players who have played all around the country at a high level and learn from them and the coaching staff.”

A defender and midfielder for the Pioneers, Stewardson said when it came to making the decision to play for the Riveters, she took into consideration the level of soccer she would be playing at.

“In previous years I had gone home and played in League 1 BC. This is the semi-professional league in Canada and is a great opportunity for university players,” Stewardson said. “However, I found that the Riveters and the USLW bring another level of professionalism and skill that I’m looking forward to. Ultimately, it was wanting to take the next step with the opportunities that are available to me that pushed me to make this decision.”

Similar to Pascoe, Stewardson plans to carry over the lessons she learned playing for the Pioneers to this new experience.

“My time at Point Park has taught me to embrace new opportunities and the challenges that come with them,” Stewardson said. “With the Riveters, I am hoping to continue to grow as a player and person with the help of their coaching staff and organization.”

The Pittsburgh Riveters open their inaugural season at Highmark Stadium on May 16 against the Cleveland Force. Tickets are available through the team’s website.