PITTSBURGH (Jan. 6, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC made another big addition to its debut season roster, adding Arizona State and German youth international goalkeeper Pauline Nelles for the 2025 season.
Nelles, 22, just completed her third college season in goal for the Sun Devils, and she is the second player set to join the Riveters with international experience, having represented Germany from the U15 through U20 levels. Her roster spot is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval once registration opens for the 2025 season.
“We are delighted to welcome a goalkeeper of Pauline’s quality to the Pittsburgh Riveters. Her experience as a player at Arizona State and with the German Youth National teams is exactly what we are looking for in such an important position on the field,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said. “Pauline’s dedication to the game, quality of her shop stopping, and ability to use her feet and play out fits into our overall philosophy of the team that we are building. We look forward to welcoming Pauline to Pittsburgh.”
A native of Bonn, Germany, Nelles already has a decorated international career. She played all five matches in Germany’s triumph at the 2019 UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship and was the hero of the final, stopping four penalty kicks as Germany defeated the Netherlands for the European Championship in a shootout. She also was a member of Germany’s squad at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Shortly after competing at the U-20 World Cup, Nelles began her college career at Arizona State.
A starter from the outset for the Sun Devils, Nelles has recorded 18 shutouts in 56 career games played while posting a .760 save percentage. She recorded nine of those shutouts in her sophomore season in 2023, setting a school record, and she earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors after being named to the Third Team and All-Freshman Team the previous year.
The Riveters continue to build out their roster for the USL W League season beginning this May with home games at Highmark Stadium on the South Shore. Season tickets are available by visiting riveterssc.com/ticket-info or by calling the Highmark Stadium Box Office at 412-865-GOAL.
