MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's women's soccer player Tessa Salvestrin has officially signed with SCU Torreense, a professional soccer club in Liga BPI in Portugal. Salvestrin has been a prominent offensive player for the Gaels during her three-year collegiate career, scoring a total of 13 goals in over 2,000 minutes of action. During her three-year career she was a two-time All-WCC selection and had a breakout season in 2024, scoring a team high eight goals including her first career hat trick against Tennessee Tech. 

"I'm super excited to be signing my first professional contract with SCU Torreense in Portugal", said Salvestrin.  "I'm incredibly grateful for my time at Saint Mary's and I wouldn't be here without my coaches, trainers and especially my teammates. Go Gaels!". 

"I'm thrilled for Tessa to begin her professional career with SCU Torreense", said Gaels head coach Theresa Romagnolo. "What a joy it has been to foster her development in our program and watch her grow into the player she has become. She's dreamt of this moment and we are so happy to see it become a reality" (Romagnolo). Under Romagnolo's tenure the Gaels have now had three players sign professional contracts including Makenna Carr who was most recently drafted to the Seattle Reign following the 2023 season. "Saint Mary's is a place where you can receive a great education as well as develop your game for the next level. We're incredibly proud of all of our alum and the great accomplishments they go on to achieve when they leave Saint Mary's" (Romagnolo).   

SCU Torreense is currently 9-5-6 in the 2024-25 season and in fifth place. Salvestrin will join the team immediately for the second half of the season and continue on through next season starting in August of 2025. 

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