HARRISON, N.J. (February 1, 2022) – NJ/NY Gotham FC announced today its 30-player preseason roster for the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League season. The 2022 season begins with group play for the NWSL Challenge Cup on Saturday, March 19th to be followed by a 24-match regular season.
“We are very excited with the players we have in camp for pre-season,” said Head Coach Scott Parkinson. “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 to NJ/NY. Among the players in camp are returning 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 2021/22 off-season has been busy for Gotham FC, acquiring numerous players to gear up for a run at the NWSL championship. Among the newest acquisitions for the club are defender Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who were acquired in a deal with the Orlando Pride. Krieger and Harris bring numerous years of United States Women’s National Team experience to Gotham FC and will look to bring immediate success to the club.
Gotham FC also brought United States Women’s National Team midfielder Kristie Mewis to NJ/NY through a trade with San Diego Wave FC. A nine-year NWSL veteran, Mewis most recently played for the Houston Dash but was the first selection of San Diego in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft.
More recent signings for the club consist of defender Ellie Jean, who comes back to the United States after playing for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, as well as forward Cameron Tucker, who signed with the NJ/NY side out of Brigham Young University of the NCAA, and goalkeeper Michelle Betos who was acquired after being waived by Racing Louisville FC.
Also joining Gotham FC this year is former 2021 draft pick Taryn Torres who will begin her NWSL journey after a successful collegiate career at the University of Virginia. Fellow 2021 draft pick, Delanie Sheehan, returns to the Gotham FC following 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,” added General Manager Yael Averbuch West. “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.”
Head Coach Scott Parkinson enters his first full season as Head Coach of Gotham FC after taking the reins and leading the club to a playoff berth in 2021. Returning to Parkinson’s technical staff are Assistant Coaches Becki Tweed and Beverly “Bev” Yanez as well as High Performance Coach Philip Congleton. Joining Parkinson’s staff this year are Goalkeeper Coach Brody Sams, Athletic Trainer Michael Hickey, and Physical Therapist Erin Morton.
2022 Gotham FC Pre-Season Roster (30 players)
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
