ECNL National Champion and Michigan Hawks alum, Eva Gaetino, is headed to the City of Light. Last week, Paris Saint-Germain announced the signing of the 21-year-old, just months after the completion of her senior season at Notre Dame.
In the fall, Gaetino was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, becoming just the third player to win the award twice and just the second to win it in back-to-back seasons.
Gaetino anchored a backline that posted six clean sheets on the season, including one in a 2-0 win over Valparaiso in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. On the offensive end, Gaetino tallied four goals and three assists on the season.
The Dexter, Michigan native played in 77 games over four seasons with the Fighting Irish, starting nearly every game of her career, and totaled seven goals and five assists over her time in South Bend.
Gaetino's outstanding collegiate career also saw her named a MAC Hermann trophy semifinalist, the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division 1 soccer, in each of her last two seasons.
Just hours after the announcement of her signing with PSG, Gaetino closed her Notre Dame chapter as she was named the women's soccer ACC Scholar-Athlete of the year, the first in program history, and Notre Dame's first league Scholar of the Year winner since 2010.
In her time with the ECNL, Gaetino was named a three time ECNL All-Midwest First Team Selection (2017-19), and helped lead the Michigan Hawks to an ECNL National Championship in 2017.
"Since Eva came to the club at a young age, she has always strived to be the best player she could be," said Michigan Hawks Director of Coaching Michele Krzisnik. "She pushed her teammates and her coaches to create a very competitive environment. Eva's desire to take on difficult challenges have ultimately made her the fierce competitor that she is today. We are very proud of Eva and her achievements and look forward to watching her future success at PSG and beyond."
Gaetino is the second American to sign with PSG in the past year, joining Eclipse Select SC alum and her former Notre Dame teammate, Korbin Albert who signed with the club in January of 2023.
Albert, who was named the 2019 ECNL Midwest Player of the Year, has made 20 appearances for PSG since her arrival, and Gaetino and her will once again share the field, this time on a team that currently sits second place in the French League.
