IRVINE, Calif. --- The NWSL season is approaching with the Anteaters becoming further integrated into the league.
NWSL Website
The National Women's Soccer League is entering its fourth season together on the heels of the Women's World Cup and a title from the U.S. squad. One of the members of the inaugural season, CoCo Goodson, enters her fourth season with Sky Blue FC. She was actually a part of the first goal in the history of the NWSL shooting a ball that deflected off the defender for an own goal. It remains her only goal in now 66 career games and 60 starts.
Prior to her time with Sky Blue FC, Goodson was selected 12th overall by the Philadelphia Independence of the WPS, however it would fold before the season started. Goodson found soccer overseas in the Netherlands for FC Twente of the BeNe League. She scored one goal in 19 games of the 2012-13 season as she joined Anteater keeper Danielle de Seriere on the team.
Sky Blue FC Website
The 'Eaters have had a sizable presence overseas including with FC Twente, recent alum Zoya Farzaneh's season with FC Slovacko, and even other players in the early 2000s such as Simone Ferrara, Nicole Bucciarelli, and Julie Scheppele who each made marks in New Zealand, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
Another NWSL transplant, Rachel Wood, got her start in Europe with Icelandic squad HK Vikingur in Reykjavik scoring twice in nine games during the 2013 season. That opportunity helped her land with the Boston Breakers who she has seen action in 17 games scoring once over the past two seasons.
Boston Breakers Website
A third Anteater made the tough journey to break through into the NWSL to get her career started. Cami Privett made the long trip to Houston to try out, work through preseason camp, and was rewarded with a spot on the roster last season and beginning here in 2016. She made the reverse trip working through the U.S. and on to Europe being loaned to Kolbotn IL in Norway where she scored three times in 11 games.
Privett returns to the Dash this spring with some firmer footing after making four appearances in the 2015 season. She's joined in camp with non-roster invitee Janelly Farías coming off her whirlwind journey that was Olympic Qualifying.
Houston Dash Website
Farías began training with the Mexican National Team in January and had some preparatory work in China as part of the Four Nations Tournament in which she and the defense did not allow a goal to China, South Korea, and Vietnam while posting two wins and a draw.
Olympic qualifiers came next here in the states in February. The Mexican squad began with a 6-0 victory over Puerto Rico, but were bounced out of group stage play with one-goal losses to Costa Rica and World Cup champions in the U.S. to end its Olympic hopes. The defender's play boosted her into the soccer world spotlight earning her a chance at a spot with the Dash.
The Dash along with the now 10-team league have under a month to get ready for the beginning of the NWSL season on April 16. Boston and Houston are each searching for their first playoff appearances both finish as high as fifth including Houston last season. SBFC made the playoffs in 2013, but are also searching for a playoff berth.
