Notes from the North: The NC Courage roster takes shape

The 2017 NWSL season will kick off in just under two weeks and the NC Courage is finalizing its roster.

Preseason Roster

Last week the team announced its preseason roster which looks like this:

Goalkeepers (2): Katelyn Rowland, Sabrina D'Angelo

Defenders (9): Elizabeth Eddy, Abby Erceg, Taylor Smith, Abby Dahlkemper, Jaelene Hinkle, Courtney Niemiec, Meredith Speck, Claire Wagner (NC Courage draftee), Tina Iordanou (invitee)

Midfielders (8): Michaela Hahn, Samantha Mewis, McCall Zerboni, Samantha Witteman, Rosana, Debinha, Maria Lubrano-Lavadera (tryout invitee), Megan Lindsay (tryout invitee)

Forwards (6): Makenzy Doniak, Lynn Williams, Jessica McDonald, Kristen Hamilton, Ashley Hatch (NC Courage draftee), Darian Jenkins (NC Courage draftee)

In addition to that list, the team acquired Yuri Kawamura, a defender who represented the Japanese National Team at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and most recently at the Algarve Cup last month.

The Courage also have three players currently on international duty. Goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo is with the Canadian National Team in Europe as they prepare to play friendlies against Sweden and Germany. Midfielder Samantha Mewis and forward Lynn Williams are on the US Women’s National Team roster for upcoming friendlies against Russia being played in Frisco, Texas April 6th and Houston, Texas April 9th.

Television Schedule Announced

The historic television deal between the NWSL and Lifetime will give the league a higher profile and weekly national audience for matches all season long. The NC Courage will appear five times on nationally televised games broadcast on the network. The team will be the NWSL Game of the Week on June 3, July 1, July 8, July 15 and August 19.

North Carolina will host FC Kansas City on June 3, 2017 to open its slate of games on Lifetime. NWSL fans will get very familiar with the Courage as they play back-to-back-to-back games on the network with home games on July 1st against Sky Blue FC and July 8th versus the Seattle Reign before traveling to Portland on July 15th to face the Thorns. The Courage will host the Washington Spirit on August 19th on the network as well.

Stadium Sponsor Revealed

WakeMed Soccer Park will get a new sponsor for the 2017 season and beyond. The Sahlen Packing Co. will sponsor the stadium which will be officially named Salhen’s Stadium at WakMed Soccer Park.

Salhen was the jersey sponsor for the Western New York Flash last season and will continue its partnership with the NWSL by sponsoring the stadium. In addition to the naming rights, Salhen’s will be the official hot dog sponsor of both the NC Courage and North Carolina FC of the NASL.