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2015 NWSL Season Preview: Washington Spirit

By Danielle King

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Off-season Acquisitions of Note

Dec 8, 2013; Cary, NC, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Taylor Smith (14) and midfield/forward Caprice Dydasco (3) and forward Kodi Lavrusky (10) and UCLA Bruins defender Megan Oyster (21) and midfield/forward Lauren Kaskie (6) celebrate after Lavrusky

  • Joanna Lohman (midfielder, Penn State), age 32, acquired when waived by the Boston Breakers at the end of 2014
  • Ari Romero (defender, Nebraska, MEX), age 22, traded from the Houston Dash for Niki Cross
  • Estefania Banini (forward, ARG), age 24, transferred from Colo-Colo (CHI)
  • Kelsey Wys (goalkeeper, Florida State), age 24, traded from the Western New York Flash (along with a fourth-round pick in 2016) for keeper Chantel Jones
  • Amanda DaCosta (midfielder, Florida State), age 25, transferred from Liverpool Ladies (ENG)
  • Katherine Reynolds (defender, Santa Clara), age 27, traded from the Western New York Flash for midfielder Jordan Angeli and a 2015 first round draft pick
  • Angela Salem (midfielder, Francis Marion University), age 26, traded from the Western New York Flash for midfielder Jordan Angeli and a 2015 first round draft pick
  • Megan Oyster (defender, UCLA), age 22, second-round draft pick in 2015
  • Caprice Dydasco (defender, UCLA), age 21, third-round draft pick in 2015
  • Whitney Church (defender, Penn State), age 21, fourth-round draft pick in 2015
  • Laura Del Rio (forward, SPA), age 32, transferred from Bristol Academy (ENG)
  • Estelle Johnson (defender, Kansas), age 26, traded from Western New York for Toni Pressley
  • Francisca Ordega (forward, NIG), age 21, transferred from Piteå IF (SWE)

The biggest pickups are probably Banini, who may be brilliant enough to set the league on fire the way that Golden Boot winner Kim Little did in 2014; the UCLA defensive pair of Oyster and Dydasco, who were part of the school’s championship-winning run in 2013; and DaCosta, who helped Liverpool to two consecutive league titles. The Ordega move was announced this week, though there is some ambiguity about how much time she will spend in DC prior to the World Cup in June.

Lohman, though not getting any younger, is still very good at doing the dirty work in midfield, and can hopefully help to minimize turnovers and maintain possession. Wys will likely see a lot of time in goal with Harris away for the USWNT; she got a ton of game experience during her rookie year in WNY, after both Adrianna Franch and Lydia Williams went down with torn ACLs.

” I will be returning to the Spirit next season. Mark Parsons has no choice in the matter,” Tiffany “Ocho” Weimer in May 2014

Caroline Miller (Virginia, age 23) and Tiffany Weimer (Penn State, age 31) both missed the 2014 season for Washington, but have returned to action for the squad. Weiner didn’t participate in the Virginia Tech match, but her resolve in returning for the team was always firm.

Next: Key Returners

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