The Houston Dash have received American defender Whitney Engen, Mexican midfielder Teresa Noyola and Canadian forward Melissa Tancredi as allocated national team players ahead of the 2014 NWSL season, the league announced today. The players are the first to be added to the Dash’s roster.
Per league rules, the players’ salaries will be subsidized by their respective home federation. From Jan. 3-6, the NWSL will have a league-wide “trade period” during which all NWSL teams may make trades. However, teams will not be allowed to waive players currently on their roster until after the NWSL Expansion Draft.
“We're excited to begin building our franchise with stars from the various national teams,” said Dash managing director Brian Ching. “We look forward to having them anchor our club both on the field and in our Houston community.”
Whitney Engen, 26, has earned 10 caps for the U.S. women’s national team and currently plays as a defender for Tyresö FF in Damallsvenskan. She will remain with the Swedish club until their run in the UEFA Women’s Champions League is complete. Tyresö is currently in the quarterfinals of the competition, set to face Neulengbach of Austria in late March.
The Torrance, Calif. native played college soccer at the University of North Carolina and spent three years playing in various leagues in the U.S. with a loan spell at Tyresö. Engen signed with English club Liverpool Ladies FC in the FA Women’s Super League for the 2013 season, winning the league before returning to Sweden in the fall of 2013 in time for Tyresö’s Champions League campaign.
Teresa Noyola, 23, is an attacking midfielder who has earned 10 caps for the Mexico women’s national team. Noyola spent a year in the Netherlands playing for ADO Den Haag before returning to the U.S. in 2013 for the NWSL’s inaugural season. She was allocated to the Seattle Reign and traded to FC Kansas City midway through the year. Noyola played in 18 games between the two teams, scoring one goal and adding one assist.
The Mexico City native moved with her family to Palo Alto, Calif. at a young age and eventually played college soccer at Stanford University. She led the Cardinal to a national championship in 2011 and was awarded the Hermann Trophy as the best female college soccer player in the nation.. Noyola played in United States national team programs until she was 20, when she joined the Mexico national team.
Melissa Tancredi, 32, has made 88 appearances for the Canada women’s national team. She is a veteran of two World Cups and two Olympics, including London 2012 where she scored four goals en route to a bronze medal for Canada. The Ancaster, Ontario, native played college soccer at Notre Dame University from 2000-2004, earning All-American accolades in 2003 and 2004. She played professionally for several teams in the U.S., most recently appearing for Swedish club Dalsjöfors GolF in 2012. Tancredi sat out in 2013 to attend chiropractor school.
Season tickets are on sale now for the Dash’s inaugural season. To purchase a package or for more information on 2014 season tickets, fans can click here or call 713-276-GOAL.
Whitney Engen
Position: Defender
International: USA
Date of Birth: November 28, 1987
Birthplace: Torrance, California
Height: 5’8”
Previous club: Tyresö FF (Sweden)
How acquired: via allocation on January 3, 2014
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Teresa Noyola
Position: Midfielder
International: Mexico
Date of Birth: April 5, 1990
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Height: 5’3”
Previous club: FC Kansas City
How acquired: via allocation on January 3, 2014
Twitter:
Melissa Tancredi
Position: Forward
International: Canada
Date of Birth: December 27, 1981
Birthplace: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Height: 5’9”
Previous club: Dalsjöfors GolF (Sweden)
How acquired: via allocation on January 3, 2014
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