New Jersey Club Officially Opens Preseason at Sportika Sports
Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) officially opened its 2018 preseason camp on Monday, with the team holding its first training session at Sportika Sports in Manalapan, N.J. Along with the start of preseason camp, the New Jersey club also announced its initial preseason roster.
Following a busy offseason, Sky Blue FC welcomes new players to the team who will look to make a big impression on its 2018 NWSL campaign. The club first added Brazilian midfielder Thaisa de Moraes Rosa Moreno as a discovery player before making a series of trades to acquire New Zealand defender Rebekah Stott; midfielders Christina Gibbons and Carli Lloyd; and forwards Janine Beckie, Shea Groom, Jen Hoy and Katie Johnson. In the 2018 NWSL College Draft, Sky Blue FC made three overall picks in the first round, taking forward Michaela Abam at no. 4, forward Imani Dorsey at no. 5 and defender Amandine Pierre-Louis at no. 6. The team then selected goalkeeper Casey Murphy with the no. 13 overall pick and midfielder Kiana Palacios with the no. 35 overall selection. Sky Blue FC then concluded its offseason acquisitions through the 2018 NWSL Dispersal Draft, where it first selected forwards Savannah McCaskill and Adriana Leon before taking defender Amanda Frisbie.
Returning to the Sky Blue FC roster in 2018 are goalkeepers Kailen Sheridan and Caroline Casey; defenders Cassidy Benintente, Mandy Freeman, Kayla Mills, Domi Richardson, Erin Simon and Erica Skroski; midfielders Daphne Corboz, Sarah Killion, Raquel Rodriguez and Madison Tiernan; and forward McKenzie Meehan.
Also invited into preseason camp are goalkeepers Tori Corsaro, Kaycee Gunion and Christiana Ogunsami; defenders Mary Fiebernitz, Monica Flores, Christa Neary and Jessica Vigna; and midfielders Nicole Baxter, Ani Sarkisian and Alli Magaletta.
2018 SKY BLUE FC PRESEASON ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (6): Caroline Casey, Tori Corsaro (NRI), Kaycee Guinion (NRI), Casey Murphy (CDP, NYR), Christiana Ogunsami (NRI), Kailen Sheridan
DEFENDERS (13): Cassidy Benintente, Mandy Freeman, Mary Fiebernitz (NRI), Monica Flores (NRI), Amanda Frisbie, Kayla Mills, Christa Neary (NRI), Amandine Pierre-Louis (CDP), Domi Richardson, Erin Simon, Erica Skroski, Rebekah Stott (NYR), Jessica Vigna (NRI)
MIDFIELDERS (11): Nicole Baxter (NRI), Daphne Corboz (NYR), Christina Gibbons, Sarah Killion, Carli Lloyd, Alli Magaletta (NRI), Kiana Palacios (CDP), Raquel Rodriguez (NYR), Ani Sarkisian (NRI), Thaisa (NYR), Madison Tiernan
FORWARDS (9): Michaela Abam (CDP), Janine Beckie, Imani Dorsey (CDP), Shea Groom, Jen Hoy, Katie Johnson, Adriana Leon, Savannah McCaskill, McKenzie Meehan
Key:
CDP – 2018 NWSL College Draft pick
NRI – Non-Roster Invitee
NYR – Not Yet Reported to Camp
Sky Blue FC will play four preseason matches at Sportika Sports, beginning with a 6:00 p.m. kickoff against Penn State University this Saturday, Feb. 24. Next on the slate is a 3:00 p.m. meeting with the University of North Carolina on Saturday, March 3, followed up by a 1:00 p.m. contest against West Virginia University on Saturday, March 10. Sky Blue FC will then conclude its preseason docket when it welcomes St. John’s University into Sportika Sports for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff on Sunday, March 18.
All four Sky Blue FC preseason matches will be open to the public, and admission to attend will be free. Sportika Sports, which is the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Sky Blue FC Preseason, is located at 150 Woodward Road in Manalapan, N.J.
+++
2018 Sky Blue FC season and half-season tickets are on sale now, and fans can purchase them today by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849). For all of the latest news on Sky Blue FC, follow us on social media: @SkyBlueFC
