River Hawks Women’s Soccer: From Lowell to the Pros

9/17/2025 12:21:00 PM

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell women’s soccer program has progressed and developed year-after-year, finding success both on and off the field through the talent the team has been able to recruit. Being a part of a strong conference in the America East, while also playing against some top-notch, non-conference opponents, has allowed the student-athletes to gain confidence, and grow in skill and IQ in order to further the development of the program as a whole.

The coaching staff’s ability to find and recruit talent to the women’s soccer program has been impressive and should not go unnoticed. The River Hawks have had many high-level recruits come and go from Lowell, so let's take a look at a few of those former River Hawks.

I’m really proud of these players to be joining some of the ones that came before them, and who have had the privilege of playing at the pro level. Each of them have different stories on how they got here, but one common thing they all share is the love for the game, the passion for the game, their work ethic and willingness to do more and always get better. Extremely proud of all of them and I hope there is more to come. We will continue running our program that hopefully develops a complete student-athlete, but also be the pathway for the ones who want to play soccer beyond college.

Head Coach Mira Novak

Ioanna Papatheodorou

Our first River Hawk spotlight was a forward at UMass Lowell for two years, as Ioanna Papatheodorou entered the program originally from Nea Erythraia, Greece. The forward’s versatile instincts allowed her to be a smart and effective player on the field, which is exactly what UMass Lowell was looking to add to the program.

August 10, 2022, Lowell, MA:
Members of the UMass Lowell Women’s Soccer team poses for portraits during media day at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Wednesday, August 10, 2022.
(Photo by Nick Grace/UMass Lowell Athletics)

Ioanna Papatheodorou

Being a student-athlete teaches you how to manage your time, balance priorities and stay disciplined. At UMass Lowell, I learned the importance of having a schedule and sticking to it. Whether it’s for training, academics or recovery. That discipline has been essential, as it’s allowed me to stay consistent and continue to improve.

Ioanna Papatheodorou

UML WSOC - Papatheodorou - Feature story photo

She was somebody that not too many people were willing to take a chance on. She came here and showed really quickly that her confidence and her ability to score goals can apply to the next level. She demonstrated that with her goal-scoring record in her first two years here, leaving as a Striker of the Year and conference Rookie of the Year as well.

Head Coach Mira Novak

Papatheodorou was a standout instantly during her time at UMass Lowell, as the forward had a surreal first year in 2021, tallying a team-high in goals (10) and points (20). She also earned America East Rookie of the Year, America East Striker of the Year, First-Team All-Conference honors and even a spot on the United Soccer Coaches Division I Atlantic All-Region team.

Papatheodorou furthered her impact as a sophomore, leading the team once again in goals (10) and points (24), while tying for first on the team in assists (4). Due to another stellar season, she was named to the America East All-Conference First Team and the NEWISA All-New England Second Team in 2022.

UMass Lowell gave me so much more than just a place to play. The program helped me grow as both a player and a person. I had great coaches, teammates and staff who pushed me to become a better version of myself every day. The experience gave me the discipline, resilience and leadership skills that I still carry with me now in my professional career.

Ioanna Papatheodorou

After finishing a remarkable collegiate career, Papatheodorou transitioned to the professional level, earning a spot on Oud-Heverlee Leuven, which is a part of the Belgian Super League. One of her more memorable games on OH Leuven was her final match last season against Anderlecht. In that game, her team was crowned the champions of Belgium for the first time in program history. Papatheodorou and OH Leuven recently played in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifier, as the football club came out on top, 2-0, on September 11. The final leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifier determines if the team will be playing in the Champions League, which would be an incredible achievement in Papatheodorou’s career.

“The transition has been both exciting and challenging," said Papatheodorou. "Stepping up from college to the professional level means playing at a much faster pace with greater physical demands and more tactical complexity.”

My college career really prepared me for that jump. I started at UMass Lowell, where I built a strong foundation and got my first taste of a higher level of football than I was used to. Then, moving to Washington, it allowed me to grow even more as a player, competing in both the Pac-12 and Big Ten against some of the best teams in the country. Now in Belgium, I push myself every day to keep improving and becoming the best version of myself.

Ioanna Papatheodorou

Julia Edholm

Julia Edholm

Our next River Hawk transferred to the program before her senior year, as midfielder/defender Julia Edholm played two seasons at UMass Lowell. Edholm, who was originally from Stockholm, Sweden, played a big role in operating as a center back and a midfielder, using her high IQ to adapt.

Being a student-athlete taught me discipline and time management early on because balancing practices, classes, and travel wasn’t easy, but it prepared me to handle competing priorities in my career. It also built resilience; setbacks on the field taught me to bounce back quickly and keep moving forward. Most importantly, I learned the value of teamwork and accountability, so knowing when to lead, when to support, and how to show up consistently.

Julia Edholm

She very quickly contributed to our group with her leadership, becoming the team captain in her fifth year. Despite being more of a defensive type of player, as a midfielder or center back, she helped to take the team to the championship game on the brink of winning the championship when we were down 2-0, and she scored a goal herself and created a penalty kick that Calliste converted. So, she always had a big player mentality, and I’m glad to see her doing well at the professional level in Sweden, and I hope she can continue to grow and show that there’s still more in her.

Head Coach Mira Novak

Edholm brought in experience and leadership, helping steer UMass Lowell in the right direction. Edholm started in all 18 games in 2022 with two goals registered and 1404 minutes logged. The Stockholm native returned for a post-grad year in 2023, ranking first on the team in goals (7), along with being selected to the America East All-Conference Second Team and the 2023 NEWISA Senior Bowl.

The River Hawks made a push during postseason play, as Edholm scored the game-winning goal against NJIT in the America East Quarterfinal game on October 30, 2023. She also posted the first goal for UMass Lowell in the championship game against Maine. The former captain went on to receive All-Tournament honors after her performances in the conference tournament.

UMass Lowell shaped me in so many ways. In terms of soccer, it challenged me to push my limits, compete at a high level, and be consistent in my performance. But just as important, it helped me grow as a person. I learned leadership, accountability, and how to handle pressure while balancing school and athletics.

Julia Edholm

Following her time at UMass Lowell, she joined Gamla Uppsala SK in 2025, playing out of Elitettan, the second highest division, in Sweden. The transition from UMass Lowell to the Pros has been a big step for Edholm, as the college game, in her eyes, was competitive and physically demanding, while the professional league is much faster, more sharp, more physical and requires even more attention to detail.

“The transition from UMass Lowell to the pros has definitely been a big step, but also an exciting one," said Edholm. "I’ve had to adjust quickly, especially in terms of decision-making under pressure and maintaining consistency every single day, not just in games, but also in training.”

At the same time, the foundation I built at UMass Lowell prepared me well, especially when it comes to work ethic, handling heavy training loads, and playing multiple games in a week.

Julia Edholm

Hope Santaniello

UMass Lowell utilized the portal very well, as another transfer came ready to play for the River Hawk program. Hope Santaniello, originally from Agawam, Massachusetts, was quite familiar with the area, bringing a fierce mindset to the UMass Lowell women’s soccer program at the forward position.

UML WSOC - Santaniello - Feature story photo

Hope Santaniello

Any student-athlete who wants to go professional must have discipline, relentless motivation and work ethic. Yes, talent will take you where you want to be, but I’m a firm believer that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. As an athlete, I was so driven by winning and being the best person and player that I could be on and off the field.

Hope Santaniello

She was somebody who wanted to push herself at a higher level and was always looking to do more. In her mind, she was always somebody who was destined to go and continue her college career at the next level. I’m glad she’s had the opportunity, and I know there is still a lot more ahead of her and that she will take advantage of every opportunity that’s in front of her.

Head Coach Mira Novak

Santaniello was a competitor on the offensive side, posting six goals and three assists for 15 points in 37 games played with 31 starts during her career at UMass Lowell. One of Santaniello’s biggest moments at UMass Lowell came when the forward scored the game-winning goal over Binghamton in the America East Semifinal in 2023, advancing the River Hawks to the America East Championship.

Following the 2024 season, Santaniello ranked second on the team for goals and points, as well as earning a spot on the 2024 CSC Academic All-District Team. This selection showcased not only her commitment to athletic excellence, but academics, as well.

I believe being at UMass Lowell the last two years helped me see the game very tactically and get me out of my comfort zone. The America East is a very competitive league, so it was always fun getting to do film sessions where I was able to see the game in a different way that helped me improve and beat my opponents.

Hope Santaniello

After wrapping up her collegiate career, Santaniello got the opportunity to get a trial with Fort Lauderdale United out of the USL Super League. This made her feel more comfortable in her ability to play at the next level, as she would eventually join the FHL WFC out of Besta Deild Kvenna in Iceland. During her time with FHL WFC, she was able to take in new knowledge and experiences, helping reach the next stop of her career with Dallas Trinity in the USL Super League. On the Trinity, she states the level of competitiveness can be extreme and finds herself being pushed every day to get better and constantly grow in the many different aspects of the game.

The transition from UMass Lowell to the pros wasn’t that difficult. The transition is essentially, one, how fast you can play, and two, touch and make quicker decisions not just on the ball but with precise movement on and off it. Outsmarting the opponent and getting in crucial spaces to get on the ball is another aspect to focus on.

Hope Santaniello

Calliste Brookshire

Calliste Brookshire

Our last River Hawk spotlight was a recent graduate, who played five seasons for UMass Lowell. Calliste Brookshire was a threat on the wing, as she came to Lowell from Silver Lake Regional High School, and grew up in Kingston, Massachusetts.

I’ve learned so many valuable lessons as a student-athlete at UMass Lowell in work ethic, time management, leadership strategies, etc. These key aspects have always kept me focused on my individual and team goals.

Calliste Brookshire

UML WSOC - Brookshire - Feature story photo

She’s a local player who was very talented but had to work hard for everything that she got, and I think here, she grew more than I could ever imagine. She became the team captain for her last two years and was always willing to put her body on the line for the team. I’m glad she started her career off in Iceland very well, and I know that there’s more in her. It’s extremely rewarding watching her play with the Greek National Team right now and getting that experience because I can see how she’s going with every game and every time she puts on that jersey as well.

Head Coach Mira Novak

Brookshire entered the program making a huge spark off the gate, as she earned America East Rookie of the Week honors once, and a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team following her freshman year in 2020. Over Brookshire’s career, she played in 80 games, starting in 72 of them, tallying 20 goals, 18 assists, and 58 points in over 5,372 minutes played for the River Hawks.

During her senior year, Brookshire was a key component of the offense, as the forward went on to lead the team in points (18) and assists (8), while also leading the America East in assists. Brookshire’s vision was not only expressed by leading the team in assists, but she set a new UMass Lowell Division I program record for career assists (12) and single-season assists (8). After a successful senior year, Brookshire was selected to the 2023 America East All-Conference Second Team.

Her 2023 postseason performances were exceptional, as she assisted on two of Edholm’s goals in the America East Quarterfinal game against NJIT on October 30, advancing to the next round after a 3-1 outcome. In the AE Semifinal game, the River Hawks took a 2-1 victory after Santaniello recorded the game-winning goal off an assist from Brookshire, sending UMass Lowell to the conference championship. Brookshire gave it her all in that final game of the conference tournament, tallying one goal and one assist.

In her final year, Brookshire tallied team highs for goals (4), assists (6) and points (14). Her consistent play led to yet another selection on the AE All-Conference Second Team, while also earning a spot on the 2024 America East All-Academic Team and the CSC Academic All-District Team. The forward also still currently holds the UMass Lowell Division I program record for career assists (18) after wrapping up her career at UMass Lowell.

The UMass Lowell Women’s Soccer program is something I will always take pride in being a member of. On the field, I was able to learn and develop as a player immensely during my time in Lowell. I’ve learned so much about the game from a tactical standpoint and hope to bring those lessons with me throughout my career. Through the challenging games or comeback wins, getting to experience those moments with my team has taught me so much, and it is something I will always benefit from. I also think that playing with different international players throughout my years at UMass Lowell has helped me see the game in different ways.

Calliste Brookshire

After finishing her college career, Brookshire, like Santaniello, earned an opportunity to play in Iceland for FHL WFC and compete in the top division. Entering the 13th week of the 2025 Besta Deild Kvenna season, Brookshire shined, adding one goal and one assist that week, as she was selected to the Team of the Week in the Icelandic league.

Along with playing in Iceland, the forward has also represented the Greek National Team. She’s been able to learn different styles of play, and train with players from many different teams. The competitive environment pushed everyone around her to be the best version of themselves, and that’s something she has always strived for.

It takes time to adjust to a new country, new team and lifestyle, but everyone has been super welcoming and helpful throughout the transition. I’m lucky to have a great support system of friends, coaches and staff at UMass Lowell that I have been able to lean on in order to help me transition into this new environment. At Lowell, our team has always set high standards on and off the field. The culture of the team has always been very important to me, and I am glad to have found a similar culture at FHL.

Calliste Brookshire

Hard work, dedication and a positive mindset has allowed these four, among other former River Hawks on the women's soccer team, to push past their limits and succeed at all levels on the soccer field. The journey has only begun in the professional league for these few individuals, so they continue to adapt, stay consistent with their skills and play, but also take in the moment, recognizing that all the countless hours spent training have finally paid off. The UMass Lowell women’s soccer program is grateful to have brought in these talented players and wishes them nothing but the best for the rest of their careers.

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