Portland Thorns FC Announce 2015 Preseason Roster
Portland Thorns FC have announced their 2015 preseason roster as the team opened training for its third season in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Training began on Monday at Providence Park and will continue in preparation for the 2015 NWSL season.
Thorns FC open the 2015 NWSL regular season with back-to-back home matches at Providence Park on April 11 against the Boston Breakers and April 18 against the Western New York Flash.
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The Thorns opened camp with 20 trial players as opposed to 11 rostered players. Portland currently has nine rostered players competing on their respective national teams and forward Genoveva Anonma is finishing her season in Germany and won’t join the Thorns until May. The loss of key personnel during the World Cup will be felt by every NWSL team. Unlike the other league teams, the Thorns have relied heavily in the past on calling up amateur players to fill in gaps due to injuries or other absences.
"“We brought, obviously, a lot of trialists in,” Thorns coach Paul Riley said. “I think (evaluating our trialists) was the most important part of the day. We have to fill a few holes, to say the least, and there were a lot of good players out there. So, we’re really happy with that.”"
Portland will enter the season still without Veronica Boquete who remains unsigned. Boguete led the team with six assists. Meanwhile, Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath and Rachel Van Hollebeke are only expected to be with the Thorns for three weeks prior to the World Cup. German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and English striker Jodie Taylor are expected to join Portland in May before leaving for the World Cup. And Australian defender Stephanie Catley isn’t expected to join the team until after the World Cup.The Thorns will also be dealing with the absences of Canadian Women’s National Team players Christine Sinclair, Rhian Wilkinson and Kaylyn Kyle.
With a roster that will be constantly in flux throughout the season, the Thorns will be hard pressed to find a consistent attack.
2015 Thorns FC Preseason Roster
Goalkeepers (4): Nadine Angerer**, Brittany Anghel*, Michelle Betos, Emily Kruger*
Defenders (14): Steph Catley**, Savannah Coiner*, Sarah Jackson*, Kendall Johnson, Kaylyn Kyle**, Alyssa Kleiner*, Emily Menges, Courtney Nelson*, Courtney Niemiec, Devin Prendergast*, Meredith Speck*, Rachel Van Hollebeke**, Rhian Wilkinson**, Kat Williamson
Midfielders (14): Chelsea Archer*, Kate Bennett*, Taylor Comeau*, Sinead Farrelly, Chrisalyn Fonte*, Krystyna Freda*, Tobin Heath**, Natalia Ledezma*, Allie Long, Sarah Robbins, Mana Shim, Ayaki Shinada*, Allie Sima*, McCall Zerboni
Forwards (10): Genoveva (Ayo) Añonma+, Shakira Duncan*, Melissa Fernandez*, Kelsey Haycook*, Alex Morgan**, Zuri Prince*, Danielle Schulmann*, Christine Sinclair**, Jodie Taylor**, Hanna Terry
*Non-roster invitee
**Currently with national team
+will arrive later this season
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