Riveters add three more WPIAL alums to inaugural roster

The Pittsburgh Riveters put the finishing touches on their first roster a day before the pre-professional women’s soccer team kicks off its inaugural season.

Riveters SC continued to build with local players from the Riverhounds Development Academy, adding Aris Lamanna (Franklin Regional), Mackenzie Dupre (Upper St. Clair) and Aleena Ulke (Moon).

The Riveters open the USL W season at 7 p.m. Friday against the Cleveland Force at Highmark Stadium.

Lamanna is a goalkeeper who plays for Coastal Carolina, while Dupre, a midfielder, and defender Ulke play at Syracuse.

Lamanna played in 13 games and started eight in her first college season, notching two shutouts.

She was an all-state and All-WPIAL player for Franklin Regional.

“We are pleased to add Aris to our goalkeeper department,” Riveters coach Scott Gibson said in a news release. “She is a a commanding goalkeeper who is a very good shot stopper and works hard at her game each day. We are excited to see how she further develops this summer.”

Dupre, a junior, transferred from Towson and played in 23 games last season for the Orange.

Before that, she was an Internationals SC player in the Elite Clubs National League.

“Mackenzie is a very hard-working player, very solid technically, and strikes a ball very well,” Gibson said. “She will provide even more depth to our midfield department throughout the course of a very busy season.”

Ulke, a junior, is coming back from an injury that slowed her sophomore season. She was the 2019 ECNL Ohio Valley Conference Defender of the Year.

“Aleena has a positive energy and mindset that is contagious,” Gibson said. “After suffering some serious injury setbacks over the last few years, Aleena has continued to work as hard as she can to work herself back to full fitness. We are proud of her journey and she will bring more defensive quality and tenacity to our group.”