Washington Spirit announces 2018 preseason roster and preseason game schedule

Washington Spirit  |   February 19, 2018
Washington Spirit announces 2018 preseason roster and preseason game schedule Featured Image

Boyds, MD (February 19, 2018) – The Washington Spirit has announced its 2018 preseason roster entering the first week of training camp.

Washington enters the preseason with a 31-player roster, including three goalkeepers, seven defenders, 10 midfielders and 11 forwards.

Five Spirit players – defender Taylor Smith, midfielders Rose Lavelle and Andi Sullivan, and forwards Ashley Hatch and Mallory Pugh will miss the start of preseason camp for international duty with the U.S. Women’s National Team.

In addition, rookie defender/midfielder Rebecca Quinn will depart shortly after the start of preseason camp for international duty with the Canada Women’s National Team, which will be competing in the 2018 Algarve Cup from February 28 – March 7 in Portugal.

Hatch and goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe, recently finished playing on loan in Australia for Melbourne City FC and Sydney FC, respectively, in the Westfield W-League. The teams met in Sunday’s W-League Grand Final, with Melbourne winning 2-0 to capture the league title. Bledsoe will join the Spirit for preseason camp upon her return from Australia, while Hatch will return to the U.S. for national team duty prior to her arrival in Washington.

Nigerian international forward Francisca Ordega has completed her time on loan with Spanish side Atletico Madrid. Ordega will travel to Nigeria for international duty during the upcoming FIFA window, before reporting to Spirit preseason camp on March 8.

Rookie defender Schuyler DeBree will be finishing her degree with Duke University.

The Spirit has also finalized its preseason game schedule, which will feature two games, both open to the public.

On Saturday March 10, Washington will return to Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Va. for the second straight year for a friendly against the 22-time women’s college champion University of North Carolina Tar Heels. [TICKETS]

On March 17, the Spirit will host the first ever NWSL match played in Richmond, Va. when they face the North Carolina Courage at the historic City Stadium. Tickets for the game in Richmond are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com. [TICKETS]

Washington has announced its 2018 regular season home opener as well, which will be played on Saturday, March 31 against 2017 NWSL semi-finalist Orlando Pride at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The game will be featured on national TV as the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime, and will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Last year’s NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime match-up between Washington and Orlando at the Maryland SoccerPlex sold out with 5,200 fans in attendance, and another sellout is expected in the Spirit’s 2018 home opener. Fans can get first access to tickets by signing up for the club’s pre-sale. [PRE-SALE]

Washington Spirit 2018 Season Tickets are on sale now at Tickets.WashingtonSpirit.com.

2018 Washington Spirit Preseason Roster
Goalkeepers (3): Aubrey Bledsoe (NYR), DiDi Haracic, Kelsey Wys

Defenders (7): Brittany Basinger (CDP), Whitney Church, Caprice Dydasco, Estelle Johnson, Rebecca Quinn (CDP/NYR), Taylor Smith (NYR), Elizabeth Wenger (CDP)

Midfielders (10): Estefania Banini, Meggie Dougherty Howard, Maddie Huster (CDP), Tori Huster, Rose Lavelle (NYR), Joanna Lohman, Rachel Moore (CDP), Morgan Proffitt, Havana Solaun, Andi Sullivan (CDP) (NYR),

Forwards (11): Yanara Aedo, Chiny Asher (NRI), Mallory Eubanks (CDP), Cali Farquharson, Ashley Hatch (NYR), Ashley Myers (NRI), Francisca Ordega (NYR), Mallory Pugh (NYR), Arielle Ship, Marissa Sullivan (NRI), Cheyna Matthews* (NYR)

Key:
CDP – 2018 NWSL College Draft pick
NRI – Non-Roster Invitee
NYR – Not Yet Reported to Camp

*Formerly Cheyna Williams

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