Tuesday roundup: Purce out of USWNT camp

Also in today’s Roundup, Yuki Nagasato is the Player of the Week, Maddie Huster signs with the Spirit, and Mexico releases their camp roster.

Defender Midge Purce has been forced to withdraw from USWNT camp due to a right ankle sprain suffered during training. She has returned to Portland for treatment and rehab. Purce will not be replaced on the roster, leaving it with 24 total players, five of whom are listed as defenders.

This was Purce’s second call-up to the senior USWNT camp, although she still awaits her first cap. She was previously called into camp last year prior to the Tournament of Nations but did not make any appearances for the team. She is the first ever player from Harvard to be called up to the USWNT.

Purce has spent time with various U.S. youth teams dating back to the U-17s. Her most recent stint was a U-23 camp this past January. Although she came up as a forward, Purce has seen most of her minutes in her first season with the Portland Thorns as a wingback and is clearly being evaluated at outside back by Jill Ellis.

The USWNT faces China twice in the next week, on Thursday in Sandy, Utah, and on Tuesday in Cleveland.

Nagasato named Player of the Week

Chicago Red Stars forward Yuki Nagasato has been voted the NWSL Player of the Week for week 10 by the NWSL Media Association.

Nagasato was key in Chicago’s 2-0 win over the Washington Spirit last Saturday, a match that was played in pouring rain after being delayed by lightning for over five hours. She drew a foul in the 25th minute and took the free kick. Her shot was saved by Kelsey Wys, but the goalkeeper spilled the wet ball and Sam Kerr nailed the rebound for the Red Stars’ opening goal. Later, in the 48th minute, she played a series of passes with Alyssa Mautz before firing the ball into the back of the net, securing Chicago’s victory to end a seven-game winless streak. This was Nagasato’s first goal of the season and her first ever Player of the Week award.

This is the Japanese international’s second season with Chicago, with two goals scored thus far. She was previously a member of Japan’s national team, with which she won the 2011 World Cup. She also has a Champions League title to her name, scoring a penalty kick in the shootout to help Turbine Potsdam defeat Lyon in 2010.

Lynn Williams, with two goals in North Carolina’s win over Portland, and Diana Matheson, notching a goal in Utah’s win against Sky Blue, were second and third in the voting, respectively.

Spirit sign another Huster

With @mhuster11 getting an #NWSL call-up, great time to re-visit our 'Hu is it' game ft. sister / teammate @torihuster.#WeWill // #SpiritFam pic.twitter.com/I036Pf7hMH

— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) June 5, 2018

The Washington Spirit announced today that they have signed midfielder Maddie Huster as a National Team replacement player for this week’s game against Sky Blue, as Rebecca Quinn will be out in international duty with Canada.

Huster was drafted in the third round by the Spirit but did not make the final roster. She is familiar with the Washington organization, having won a W-League championship with the Spirit Reserves in 2015. Huster’s older sister, Tori, is also a long-tenured member of the Spirit’s first team, and the two could take the field together on Friday.

Huster is a graduate of Wake Forest University. She has been a member of the U.S. Youth National Team pools from the U-14s through the U-23s.

Henninger named to camp roster for Mexico

Mexican head coach Roberto Medina has named his roster for an upcoming week-long camp for Mexico’s national team. Houston Dash goalkeeper Bianca Henninger has been called in, as is Christina Murillo of the Red Stars Reserves. However, Sky Blue forward Katie Johnson, who scored for Mexico against the U.S. during their April friendlies, was not called in. The roster also features three players from current Liga MX Femenil champion Tigres UANL, as well as the current leading scorer of Spain’s Primera División, Charlyn Corral.

The camp will feature two friendly games on June 8 and June 10, although opponents have not been announced. The full roster can be found below.

Goalkeepers: Alexandria Godinez (Pachuca), Bianca Henninger (Houston Dash), Cecilia Santiago (Club América)

Defenders: Rebeca Bernal (Monterrey), Greta Espinoza (Levante UD), Mónica Flores, Sabrina Flores, Vanessa Flores (West Virginia University), Annia Mejía, Christina Murillo (Chicago Red Stars Reserves), Kenti Robles (Atlético Madrid Femenino), Arianna Romero (Valur Reykjavik), Bianca Sierra (Thór /KA)

Midfielders: Nancy Antonio (Tigres UANL), Cristina Ferral (Olympique de Marseille), Carolina Jaramillo (Tigres UANL), Stephany Mayor (Thór /KA), Karla Nieto (Pachuca), Mónica Ocampo (Pachuca), Nayeli Rangel (Tigres UANL), María Sánchez (Santa Clara University)

Forwards: Ariana Calderón (Thór /KA), Charlyn Corral (Levante UD), Anisa Guajardo (Sundsvalls DFF), Kiana Palacios