Hughes-Goyette Turns Pro
(FREDERICTON, NB) Aurora Hughes-Goyette is going where no other UNB REDS women’s soccer alum has gone before.
She’s turning pro.
The two-time Atlantic University Sport all-star has signed a contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv FC of the Israeli First League or Ligat Nashim.
“Turning pro is a dream come true,” said Hughes-Goyette, a native of Squamish, BC. “I feel like it hasn’t settled in yet. It is something I’ve be working towards for years, so I feel proud of myself, over the moon.”
Hughes-Goyette is the first UNB women’s soccer alumnus to sign a professional contract.
“It’s the culmination of years of hard work by Aurora and the teams of people around her here at UNB,” said REDS’ head coach Jon Crossland. “She was brave enough to say this is what I want to do after I’m done playing at UNB and she put the work in with the team and by herself to earn this opportunity.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv went 8-7-6 (W-D-L) in 2025-26, finishing in third place in the eight-team league and qualifying for the league’s championship round where they struggled with a 1-1-4 record.
The league’s first place team qualifies to play in the UEFA Women’s Champion’s League.
“The growth of professional opportunities for women, not just in soccer, is incredible,” said Hughes-Goyette. “For me, the emergence of the Northern Super League was just what I needed to see a clear path to pro. “
Despite the growth in opportunities, Hughes-Goyette says finding her professional opportunity hasn’t been easy.
“I had to work really hard to find it,” she said. “Lots of research, lots of conversations, reaching out to people who’ve done it, reaching out to agencies and coaches who might have some insight, and promoting myself.”
In her six years at UNB, Hughes-Goyette played five seasons, losing the 2020-21 season to the pandemic.
The REDS failed to make the playoffs in her first three seasons, but things changed.
In 2024-25, Hughes-Goyette helped turn things around. She earned 1st Team AUS all-star status as the REDS went 9-2-1 (W-L-T), losing in the conference championship game. In 2025-26, she was once again a 1st Team AUS all-star, helping the REDS to an 8-1-3 record and a conference semi-final berth.
“At her end of season meeting in 2023, Aurora told us that she wanted to play pro after her time here,” said Coach Crossland. “We, assistant coach Dwight Hornibrook and I, talked about a position change we felt would be best for her. She got on board and had two all-star seasons. Aurora likes all parts of being a player, including training and individual work, gym, video, and she really applied herself to improve her technical execution and her mental approach. She’s become an elite athlete.”
Hughes-Goyette started all 62 games, regular season and playoff, she played in with the REDS and scored six goals and seven assists.
“UNB helped me prepare for this opportunity in so many ways,” she said. “I developed as a player and as a person there. At UNB I learned to be a team leader and grew a mindset that I didn't have when I arrived.”
“While I'm proud to be the first player from the program to play professionally, what excites me most is what it could mean for those who come after me,” she added. “I hope it opens the door a little wider and gives other players the confidence to chase their own dreams.”
“Girls can now see, in person, what the professional standard is like instead of seeing it on TV,” said Coach Crossland. “UNB has all the supports and amenities that athletes need to improve while they’re here and take that next step. Over the past three to five years, more women have gone on to play professionally out of the AUS than ever before. Pathways to pro soccer is something young women are looking for now, and Aurora shows that we are capable of developing pro players here in Fredericton and at UNB.”
The Ligat Nashim season runs from late August until early May.
Hughes-Goyette and her Tel Aviv teammates open their 2026-27 campaign on the road, at Jerusalem, on August 22nd.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS
FILE PHOTO: Fran Harris/for UNB REDS