The Houston Dash have signed defender Carleigh Williams and added forward Jessica McDonald to the roster, the club announced today. In addition, the Dash have added forward Allie Bailey, goalkeeper Megan Kinneman and midfielder Cami Privett to the 20-player roster available for tonight’s match vs. the Washington Spirit via the NWSL’s amateur call-up mechanism.
Williams (above), 22, was the 4th round pick (No. 31 overall) for the Dash at the 2015 NWSL College Draft out of the University of Central Florida. The Beverly Hills, Florida, native was named the American Athletic Conference Defender of the Year in 2014 and helped the Golden Knights reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
McDonald, 27, was acquired via trade from Portland Thorns FC at the 2015 NWSL College Draft. McDonald won Thorns FC’s Golden Boot and finished third in the NWSL in 2014 with 11 goals. The Glendale, Ariz. native appeared in all 24 games and was named to the NWSL Second XI last season. McDonald, 26, played two seasons at the University of North Carolina and won the NCAA national championship as a junior transfer in 2008.
Allie Bailey, Megan Kinneman and Cami Privett will be eligible for selection at tomorrow’s season opening match against the Washington Spirit as amateur call-ups due to the absence of Canada Women’s National Team players Allysha Chapman, Erin McLeod and Lauren Sesselmann.
All three players have trained with the Dash throughout the 2015 preseason. Bailey, 22, was a four-year standout at Texas A&M University. Privett, 22, was discovered during Dash tryouts in February out of the University of California-Irvine. Kinneman, an LSU product, was used as an amateur call-up once during the 2014 season.
