Savannah McCaskill enjoyed a productive rookie season with Sky Blue FC. (Jeff Auger Photo)

TINTON FALLS, N.J. — If it’s the National Women’s Soccer League offseason, then there’s a good chance that several Sky Blue FC players are heading to play in Australia.

Forward Savannah McCaskill will join Sydney FC on loan while defender Rebekah Stott has signed a one-season contract with Melbourne City FC in the 2018-19 season of the Westfield W-League in Australia.

McCaskill, 22, arrived at Sky Blue FC after she was selected as the second overall pick in the 2018 NWSL dispersal draft. The University of South Carolina product was a steady fixture in the Starting XI, playing 1,510 minutes over 20 appearances this past season. She recorded three goals and a team-leading three assists (tied with Shea Groom). Her three goals were the second highest among NWSL rookies in 2018, while her three assists were the top mark among first-year players in the league.

Stott, 25, completed her first NWSL campaign with Sky Blue FC in 2018 after the team acquired her in a January trade with Seattle Reign FC. She made nine appearances for the New Jersey, playing a total of 775 minutes.

Stott began her club career in 2010 for Brisbane Roar in the W-League before spending the next two seasons with Melbourne Victory. The New Zealand international made the move to the Frauen-Bundesliga in Germany to play with SC Sand for two years before heading back to Australia in 2015 to join Melbourne City, winning a W-League championship during the 2015-16 season. Stott made her NWSL debut in 2017 for Seattle Reign FC. She returns to Melbourne City after helping the Australian side to a third consecutive W-League title during the 2017-18 season.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.