NJ/NY Gotham FC announced Tuesday its 30-player preseason roster for the National Women’s Soccer League season.
The 2022 season begins with group play for the NWSL Challenge Cup on Saturday, March 19 to be followed by a 24-match regular season.
“We are very excited with the players we have in camp for pre-season,” head coach Scott Parkinson said in a statement. “We’ve done a lot of work behind the scenes to make this an enjoyable and advantageous couple of months. With so many new players and staff it’s going to be so exciting to see how it all comes together. We are raring to go!”
The club enters training with a roster that includes some key returning pieces combined with new faces on the squad.
Among the returning players are forwards Paige Monaghan, Ifeoma Onumonu, and Margaret “Midge” Purce, midfielders Nicole Baxter, Jennifer Cudjoe, Nahomi Kawasumi, Allie Long, Domi Richardson, and McCall Zerboni and defenders Imani Dorsey, Caprice Dydasco, Sabrina Flores, Mandy Freeman, Estelle Johnson and Gina Lewandowski.
The newest acquisitions included defender Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who were acquired in a deal with the Orlando Pride. Krieger and Harris bring their U.S. women’s national team experience to Gotham FC.
Gotham FC also acquired USWNT midfielder Kristie Mewis through a trade with San Diego Wave FC. A nine-year NWSL veteran, Mewis most recently played for the Houston Dash. She was the first selection of San Diego in the 2022 NWSL expansion draft.
More recent signings consist of defender Ellie Jean, who returns to the USA after playing for PSV Eindhoven (the Netherlands), forward Cameron Tucker, who signed out of Brigham Young University, and goalkeeper Michelle Betos, acquired after being waived by Racing Louisville FC.
Also on board is 2021 draft pick Taryn Torres, who will begin her NWSL journey after a college career at the University of Virginia. Fellow 2021 draft selection, Delanie Sheehan, returns to the Gotham FC after a loan to French club Paris FC.
Non-roster invitees include forward Jenna Bike, midfielder Tess Boade, defenders Julia Grosso, and Amanda Visco, as well as 2022 NWSL Draft picks Kelly Ann Livingstone (defender) and Hensley Hancuff (goalkeeper).
Gotham FC will begin the preseason without defender Elizabeth Eddy who remains on loan with the Newcastle United Jets of the A-League Women in Australia. She will join Gotham FC following the end of their season in March.
“This offseason, our technical staff and front office have worked tirelessly to prepare for our players to return,” general manager Yael Averbuch West said in a statement. “We can’t wait to see everyone, meet our newcomers, and continue to forge the ‘Gotham FC way.’ I can’t wait to watch it all continue to build on last year.”
The roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Michelle Betos, Hensley Hancuff (NRI), Ashlyn Harris
DEFENDERS (12): Imani Dorsey, Caprice Dydasco, Elizabeth Eddy (NYR), Sabrina Flores, Mandy Freeman, Julia Grosso (NRI), Ellie Jean, Estelle Johnson (FED/CMR), Ali Krieger, Gina Lewandowski, Kelly Ann Livingstone (NRI), Amanda Visco (NRI)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Nicole Baxter, Tess Boade (NRI), Jennifer Cudjoe (INTL), Naho Kawasumi (INTL), Allie Long, Kristie Mewis (FED/USA), Domi Richardson, Delanie Sheehan, Taryn Torres, McCall Zerboni
FORWARDS (5): Jenna Bike (NRI), Paige Monaghan, Ifeoma Onumonu (FED/NGA), Margaret “Midge” Purce (FED/USA), Cameron Tucker
Key:
FED: Denotes 2021 federation player (2022 status not yet announced)
NRI: Non-roster invitee
NYR: Not yet reported
