LOWELL, Mass. — The UMass Lowell women's soccer team has expanded the roster, adding a mid-year transfer and two incoming freshmen for 2026, announced Head Coach Mira Novak.
The River Hawks picked up one recruit from the transfer portal in freshman Elsa Freeman (Portland, Me.) from Boston College, while two incoming freshmen in Silje McGee (London, Ontario) and Märta Sundberg (Stockholm, Sweden) anticipate joining the program. All three are set to join the team at the start of the 2026 spring season.
Freeman enters UMass Lowell after previously playing in the midfield at Boston College for one season. In high school, she played varsity soccer at Deering High School and club soccer for Seacoast United Girls Academy. As a freshman, Freeman stood out from the start, earning spots on the Southern Maine Athletic Conference (SMAA) All-Conference Team and the Maine All-State Team, while also being awarded the SMAA Rookie of the Year in 2021. Freeman continued her consistent play by once again garnering spots on the SMAA All-Conference Team and the Maine All-State Team both her sophomore and junior year. In her final year of high school, Freeman secured a spot on the Maine All-State Team for the fourth straight year, and achieved a selection to the All-New England Team in 2024. She was invited to compete in the Maine State Senior Bowl, earning MVP honors after the match.
"Elsa is a player we identified and recruited very early in her process, and one we have always valued highly both as a player and as a person," said Novak. "We are excited to have a second opportunity to coach Elsa and believe she will be a positive and impactful member of our program. She has excellent vision, is creative on the ball, and tends to be particularly effective in the final third, where she can both score goals and create chances for others. We look forward to working with Elsa to help her reach her full potential and, in turn, contribute meaningfully to the program's success."
A native of London, Ontario, McGee prepares for her first year with UMass Lowell after recently attending London Central Secondary School. Serving as a defender, she played club soccer for Whitecaps London FC, reaching the U20 League1 Ontario finals in 2023, and the L2 League1 Ontario finals in 2024. McGee secured a spot on the Ontario Provincial Xcel Team in 2022 and 2024, which identifies the top players through the Ontario Player Development League. The defender also gained an opportunity to play part-time with NDC (National Development Centre) Ontario for two years (2023-24). Adding to her experience, McGee trained with Arna-Bjornar, a Norwegian football club, while playing in games with their recruit team this past year.
"Silje is a natural leader whose impact extends beyond her on-field performances," said Novak. "She has the ability to elevate the group over time through her leadership and presence. Silje is a cerebral defender with a strong ability to read the game, and after spending last semester studying and playing in Norway, she brings a different level of tactical insight and experience. I am confident that Silje will raise the level of our entire defensive unit through both her leadership and her play."
Sundberg looks ahead to her rookie campaign after she last played club soccer for one of the best youth clubs in Europe, IF Brommapojkarna. Operating in a defensive role is a big part of Sundberg's game, as her skills allowed her to progress and play in the highest youth girls' league in Sweden. During her final year in 2025 with IF Brommapojkarna, she posted the most minutes registered on the team and was recognized as a team captain. The defender was also named IF Brommapojkarna G19's Player of the Year in 2025, recognizing her as the team's top performer.
"Märta is a tough, competitive defender who can play both centrally and in wide areas," said Novak. "She distributes the ball well and demonstrates a strong understanding of the game. We feel Märta will fit seamlessly into our group and provide value on both sides of the ball. I am especially pleased that both Märta and Silje have chosen to join us early in the spring, which will allow them to integrate into the team and our playing style right away."
