Darija Mikuckytė says she is ready to take on greater responsibility after being tipped to become MFA Žalgiris’s first-choice goalkeeper this season.
The 20-year-old is expected to step into the role after Meda Šeškutė, who guarded the club’s goal for the past four seasons, began her career abroad at the end of 2025. Mikuckytė tenured as the team’s second keeper last year.
Mikuckytė, who is from Žarėnai, started her senior career with Džiugas in 2022 before featuring 17 times in the Lithuanian women’s top flight with Utenis in 2023. She joined MFA Žalgiris at the start of 2024 and made her first-team debut in March that year in a Baltic Women’s Football League match against Liepāja FS. A spell with Saned followed, before she returned mid-season and became Šeškutė’s backup.
“It was one of the more interesting seasons, full of intrigue and a fight right to the end,” Mikuckytė said. “I felt the coaches’ trust growing, got more chances in the top division and also had the opportunity to test myself in the Baltic league, which made me really happy. Training with the best Lithuanian goalkeeper gave me a lot. Meda… always advised me, motivated me, shared her experience and helped me grow both as a player and as a person. In other words, I had two teachers – coach Aistė Griciūtė and Meda.”
Mikuckytė has also been part of MFA Žalgiris-MRU’s futsal squad, winning the Lithuanian women’s futsal championship in each of the past two winters. She said the smaller space and faster tempo helped sharpen her reactions and decision-making, and believes her one-v-one goalkeeping has improved.
MFA Žalgiris have retained the core of their squad for 2026, with Vadimas Carabetchi continuing as head coach. Erika Šupelytė has returned after a three-year break and defender Kotryna Maželytė has also joined.
Their first official match of the year is scheduled for 7 February, when they face title holders Riga FC in the Baltic Women’s Football League.
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Source: https://www.mfazalgiris.lt/naujienos/darija-mikuckyte-esu-pasiruosusi-prisiimti-atsakomybe/
