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Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Photo by: Southampton FC Media
Denver Women’s Soccer Alum Alina Santos Signs with Southampton FC
7/29/2026 9:21:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Formed DU goalkeeper signed first pro contract with English WSL2 club on Wednesday
DENVER – Former University of Denver women's soccer goalkeeper Alina Santos has signed a professional contract with Southampton FC Women, the English football club announced on Wednesday.
Santos was a member of the Denver women's soccer program from 2022-25, playing in 23 total matches during the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. She was DU's starting keeper for all but one match last season – missing only one of 18 matches due to international duty with her home country of New Zealand in October, 2025.
In 2025, she made 77 saves, the eighth most for an individual goalkeeper in a single season in Denver's NCAA Division I history. Five of her eight wins on the year were clean sheets. Her career-best eight saves against Baylor on August 21, 2025, while Denver played down a woman earned her Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week honors. She finished the year tied for No. 46 nationally in save percentage (.828).
In October, 2025, she was called up for the first time to the New Zealand Football Ferns national team for friendlies against the United States and Mexico. She then received her first cap on December 3, 2025, as a substitute in New Zealand's match against Australia.
Santos was named to the Football Ferns' squad that qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in March, 2026.
Southampton FC will play in the Women's Super League 2 during the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The University of Denver women's soccer team is midway through preseason training in preparation for its upcoming 2026 campaign, which begins on August 13 at Northern Colorado. DU will also play in two exhibition matches, starting with its August 5 friendly against Albion SC at University of Denver Soccer Stadium on August 5.
The 2026 season will be Denver's first as a member of the West Coast Conference with its WCC debut scheduled for September 26 when the Pioneers host Saint Mary's.
Santos was a member of the Denver women's soccer program from 2022-25, playing in 23 total matches during the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. She was DU's starting keeper for all but one match last season – missing only one of 18 matches due to international duty with her home country of New Zealand in October, 2025.
In 2025, she made 77 saves, the eighth most for an individual goalkeeper in a single season in Denver's NCAA Division I history. Five of her eight wins on the year were clean sheets. Her career-best eight saves against Baylor on August 21, 2025, while Denver played down a woman earned her Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week honors. She finished the year tied for No. 46 nationally in save percentage (.828).
In October, 2025, she was called up for the first time to the New Zealand Football Ferns national team for friendlies against the United States and Mexico. She then received her first cap on December 3, 2025, as a substitute in New Zealand's match against Australia.
Santos was named to the Football Ferns' squad that qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in March, 2026.
Southampton FC will play in the Women's Super League 2 during the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The University of Denver women's soccer team is midway through preseason training in preparation for its upcoming 2026 campaign, which begins on August 13 at Northern Colorado. DU will also play in two exhibition matches, starting with its August 5 friendly against Albion SC at University of Denver Soccer Stadium on August 5.
The 2026 season will be Denver's first as a member of the West Coast Conference with its WCC debut scheduled for September 26 when the Pioneers host Saint Mary's.
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