UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Marissa Sheva became the 14th Penn State women's soccer alumna actively playing in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) when she signed with the Washington Spirit on June 3 as a short-term COVID-19 replacement player.
Sheva is no stranger to the professional level, having previously rostered with the NWSL's Utah Royals FC in 2020 after a brief tenure with Deportivo Alavés Gloriosas in Primera División, the top-tier women's league in Spain.
A two-sport athlete in soccer and track & field while at Penn State from 2015-18, Sheva made her debut with the Spirit on June 4 against Gotham FC when she appeared in the 74th minute.
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Sheva said she had started training with the Spirit six weeks before her debut with the intention of getting back into a competitive environment after undergoing hip surgery last year.
"My debut came as a bit of a surprise because I wasn't expecting to get onto the roster for a few more weeks, but the timing couldn't have been more perfect because I was able to debut in New Jersey in front of family and friends that supported me through surgery rehab.
"Stepping back on the pitch was so exciting and surreal because I've been working for it since I got injured."
Her debut was a Penn State reunion of sorts as she faced off against former PSU teammate Ellie Jean's team, Gotham FC. Sheva and Jean were members of the 2015 signing class and shared the pitch as Nittany Lions through 2018. Gotham FC also has 2006 PSU alum, Ali Krieger, on its roster.
"It's always really cool to reconnect with all of the Penn Staters in the NWSL," Sheva said. "It was especially great seeing Ellie again, as we've played with and against each other since we were 13 years old. It's definitely a bit weird not wearing the same colors anymore, but her pro career has been so fun to follow, and I'm really excited to see what else she accomplishes."
Penn State's Marissa Sheva (27) celebrates her game winning goal with Ellie Jean (14), who had the assist, with 1:52 left in the game against Michigan during the 2018 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament quarterfinal game on Oct. 28, 2018. Penn State defeated Michigan 1-0.
In four seasons at Penn State, Sheva saw playing time in 92 matches with 60 starts while netting 13 goals and nine assists. She earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors twice in her final two seasons at Penn State. In her senior season, Sheva netted three game-winning goals for the Nittany Lions.
Among her favorite memories at Penn State are, "Winning the national championship in 2015 is definitely a top memory, and so are the other 3 NCAA tournament runs and multiple Big Ten Championships. The staff and teammates are definitely what make Penn State so special. The fond memories are too many to count!"
Sheva studied Security and Risk Analysis in the College of Information Science and Technology at Penn State and is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a 2016 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Since her signing and debut with the Spirit, Sheva has been reclassified as a national team replacement player in the absence of the Spirit's seven USWNT players and one Mexican women's national team player.
"I'm excited to learn and grow as a player here," Sheva concluded. "The team is so talented; the staff is amazing and brings so much experience to the group. I feel lucky to be able to train in this environment!"