NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League announced today that forward Margaret “Midge” Purce will return to the club on a two-year contract. Purce was drafted 9th overall by the Boston Breakers from Harvard University in the 2017 NWSL Draft and came to Gotham FC (then Sky Blue FC) via a trade with the Portland Thorns in 2020.
“Midge is everything we want to be on and off the field,” said Head Coach Scott Parkinson. “She’s a smart and intelligent footballer that can defend from the front for 90 minutes and is a constant threat when we have the ball. She’s a tough player for teams to silence and we are ecstatic she wants to play her football here in NJ and NY.”
Purce returns to Gotham for her sixth season in the NWSL following a breakout 2021 campaign. The Silver Spring, Maryland native started in all 18 of her appearances for Gotham FC this season, logging 1,477 minutes on the pitch for the club. She led the NJ/NY side with 9 goals paired with one assist and was an integral part of a forward group that led the team to the playoffs. Her dynamic play late in the season garnered her the recognition of NWSL October Player of the Month and a second place finish in the NWSL Golden Boot Race.
In November, Purce was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster ahead of two international friendlies in Australia, taking her number of international caps up to nine. Purce was also one of the 26 names among Vlatko Andonovski’s player roster for the BioSteel Training Camp in Austin, Texas in January adding yet another distinction to her young national team career.
Gotham FC begins the pre-season on February 1 before kicking off the 2022 season on Saturday, March 19, with group play for the NWSL Challenge Cup. The Cup will feature three groups of four teams, playing double round-robin matches, semifinals and the NWSL Challenge Cup Final on Saturday, May 7, broadcast on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live on Paramount+.
About NJ/NY Gotham FC:
Originally named Sky Blue FC, the Club underwent a major rebrand in April 2021 and officially changed its name to NJ/NY Gotham FC. Representing New Jersey and New York, the Club plays its National Women’s Soccer League home matches at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The Club has been part of the NWSL since the league launched in 2013. Founded in 2007, Gotham FC originally debuted as Jersey Sky Blue in the W-League of United Soccer Leagues. The Club won its first trophy as Sky Blue FC in 2009 after winning the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer championship. Most recently, Gotham FC played in the 2021 Challenge Cup Final against the Portland Thorns, the Club’s first ever championship appearance in NWSL competition.
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