Boston Breakers Sign Midfielder Stephanie Verdoia, Announce Roster

The Boston Breakers have signed Seattle University alum Stephanie Verdoia, filling in their last spot on a 20-player roster.

Verdoia went late in the draft, taken in the fourth round and 32^nd overall, but University of Washington head coach Lesle Gallimore called her a "sleeping giant."  Verdoia recently saw time with the USWNT U-23s in La Manga. In her senior year at Seattle U, she registered 22 goals and 13 assists with 60 shots on goal. You can see Verdoia setting up a goal against Norway at 3:13 in the video below.

Verdoia has looked good throughout preseason, with Coach Durkin quickly making it apparent in practice he expects her to help generate attack through the midfield as well as take responsibility for delivery on set pieces. In the Breakers' last preseason game against UConn, she served a good corner kick that allowed Rachel Wood to get a strong, clean header into the net.

It remains to be seen if Verdoia will be included on the travel roster for Boston's first game of the season against Portland, but Durkin seems to have faith in his rookie, calling her "composed" with "promise and poise." After playing Portland away, the Breakers' first home game is April 26 against the Houston Dash.

Rosters are now finalized across the league. With only two players likely to be away on World Cup duty (Naeher and Sierra), the team should find itself fairly stable this summer. The Breakers roster is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Jami Kranich, Alyssa Naeher

DEFENDERS (7): Maddy Evans, Kassey Kallman, Julie King, Mollie Pathman, Bianca Sierra, Cat Whitehill, Rachel Wood

MIDFIELDERS (7): Amy Barczuk, Bia, Kristie Mewis, Suzane Pires, Rafinha, Katie Schoepfer, Stephanie Verdoia

FORWARDS (4): Nkem Ezurike, Ketlen, Morgan Marlborough, Stephanie McCaffrey