LEMLAND, Åland Islands, Finland – Åland United of the Kansallinen Liiga in Finland announced the signing of Saint Francis women's soccer alumna Mariana Jaleca ('20). This is her first professional contract.

"Signing for the champions of Finland (Åland United) was another big step in my soccer career," said Jaleca. "I was extremely happy when the club contacted me and being able to play champions league is a dream coming true."

Jaleca earned a degree in psychology from Saint Francis while playing soccer. While playing for the Red Flash, Jaleca scored nine goals and tallied 10 assists through 46 games. She began her career in 2017 with her first collegiate goal being the game-winning goal against Wagner and went on to be named NEC All-Tournament Team. In the 2017 NEC Tournament, Jaleca scored the opening goal in the semifinal win and converted on a penalty kick in the shootout of the NEC Championship game to help lift the Red Flash to a championship. She totaled four goals and four assists in 2018 and finished her SFU career with three goals and five assists in 2019. Jaleca began the 2019 with two goals in the season opener against UMBC and finished with a career-high three against St. Francis Brooklyn in the season finale.

"Congratulations to Mariana," said Davis. "She had the goal of playing professionally and I'm so happy for her on signing her contract. She is a player with great technical skills and worked to improve on them daily. She had some great goals and assists in her last season here, and fun to watch on the ball. Good luck to her and her new team!"

Åland United has already qualified to compete in the Women's Champions League in October, an international competition that features the top European club teams.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.