The Houston Dash have signed forward ThembiKgatlanaand have agreed to new contracts with defenders Cami Levin and CariRoccaro, the club announced today.
Kgatlana joins Houston after spending last year with the University of Western Cape in South Africa. The forward represented South Africa in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, where she was coached by current Dash head coach, Vera Pauw. The forward won the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations Women's Championship with South Africa last year and earned Player of the Tournament honors.
Levin started in all 22 possible games for Houston last season after joining the club in Week 2. The four-year NWSL veteran has played in 74 games since returning to America from Sweden, where she won the Swedish Super Cup Championship with IFK Göteborgin 2013.
Roccaro returns to Houston for her third season after being selected with the fifth overall selection in the 2016 NWSL College Draft. The defender has appeared in 33 games since joining Houston in 2016. Prior to playing professionally, Roccaro won the 2012 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup with current Dash teammate Kealia Ohai.
Houston will open its fifth season in the NWSL against the Chicago Red Stars and the 2017 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, Julie Ertz,and 2017 NWSL MVP Sam Kerr at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 25 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Tickets for the match begin at $19, and full Season Ticket Memberships begin at $192. Tickets are available online at HoustonDashSoccer.com, by phone at 713-276-GOAL or at the Stadium box office.
