skip navigation

2018 NWSL Preseason Update

02/20/2018, 6:00pm EST
By Admin

Over 50 alumnae from UWS member organizations are taking part

METUCHEN, NJ - The preseason for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) kicked off on Monday and 54 former members of United Women's Soccer (UWS) organizations are looking to compete for a spot in the top professional league in the world. The Western New York Flash - the 2016 NWSL champions - led the way with over half of that number while the Colorado Pride, New Jersey Copa FC and Real Salt Lake Women were also well represented. Five RSL Women standouts are taking part in Utah Royals FC training camp alone.

Highlights on this list include the 2016 UWS Defensive Player of the Year Rebecca Ritchie and 2016 & 2017 All-UWS defender Natalie Norris from Real Salt Lake; 2018 No. 4 overall selection Michaela Abam from the Colorado Pride; and shot-stopper Ryann Torrero, the starting goalkeeper for the 2017 UWS National Finalist Santa Clarita Blue Heat. Flash alumnae are some of the stars of the world game: Sam Kerr in Chicago and Marta, Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux in Orlando; while top young talent like Samantha Mewis and Lynn Williams are on the North Carolina roster.

The full list is below:

CHICAGO RED STARS

GK Ryann Torrero (Santa Clarita Blue Heat)
D Chandra Eigenberger (Santa Clarita Blue Heat)
MF Michele Vasconcelos (Real Salt Lake Women)
F Sam Kerr (Western New York Flash)

HOUSTON DASH

F Tiffany Weimer (New England Mutiny)

ORLANDO PRIDE

GK Ashlyn Harris (Western New York Flash)
D Toni Pressley (Western New York Flash)
MF Kristen Edmonds (Western New York Flash)
MF Alanna Kennedy (Western New York Flash)
MF Emily van Egmond (Western New York Flash)
F Sydney Leroux (Western New York Flash)
F Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash)
F Marta (Western New York Flash)

NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE

GK Sabrina D’Angelo (Western New York Flash)
D Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash)
D Abby Erceg (Western New York Flash)
D Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash)
MF Makenzy Doniak (Western New York Flash)
MF Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash)
MF McCall Zerboni (Western New York Flash)
F Crystal Dunn (Long Island Rough Riders)
F Darian Jenkins (Real Salt Lake Women)
F Jessica McDonald (Western New York Flash)
F Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)

PORTLAND THORNS FC

GK Britt Eckerstrom (Colorado Pride)
GK Adrianna Franch (Western New York Flash)
D Meghan Klingenberg (Western New York Flash)
D Katherine Reynolds (Western New York Flash)
MF Angela Salem (Western New York Flash)
F Christine Sinclair (Western New York Flash)
F Mallory Weber (Colorado Pride)

SEATTLE REIGN FC

GK Lydia Williams (Western New York Flash)
D Yael Averbuch (Western New York Flash)
MF Morgan Andrews (New England Mutiny)
MF Rachel Corboz (New York Surf)
MF Stephanie Verdoia (Real Salt Lake Women)
F Jasmyne Spencer (Western New York Flash)

SKY BLUE FC

GK Christiana Ogunsami (New Jersey Copa FC)
D Erin Simon (New Jersey Copa FC)
MF Nicole Baxter (New Jersey Copa FC)
MF Carli Lloyd (Western New York Flash)
F Michaela Abam (Colorado Pride)
F Adriana Leon (Western New York Flash)

UTAH ROYALS FC

GK Rebecca Ritchie (Real Salt Lake Women)
D Rebecca Moros (Western New York Flash)
D Natalie Norris (Real Salt Lake Women)
MF Annie Hawkins (Real Salt Lake Women)
MF Collette Smith (Real Salt Lake Women)
F Victoria Shimkus (Real Salt Lake Women)

WASHINGTON SPIRIT

GK DiDi Haracic (Western New York Flash)
GK Kelsey Wys (Western New York Flash)
D Estelle Johnson (Western New York Flash)
D Elizabeth Wenger (Lancaster Inferno)
MF Tori Huster (Western New York Flash)

About United Women’s Soccer (UWS): UWS is a national women’s soccer league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). UWS is a professionally operated league created for teams that meet high minimum standards. The season runs from May until the end of July, culminating in a National Championship match. The UWS player pool is comprised of college players, aspiring & former professionals and international stars. You can follow UWS on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media can contact UWS Director of Communications Jorma Kansanen by e-mail at UWSPress@gmail.com. You can visit the league’s official website at UWSSoccer.com. Interested team applicants can contact League Commissioner Joe Ferrara, Jr. by e-mail at Joe@UWSSoccer.com.

Tag(s): News |   Lancaster Inferno  LI Rough Riders  New England Mutiny  New Jersey Copa FC  New York Surf  Western NY Flash  Real Salt Lake  Santa Clarita Blue Heat  Colorado Pride