NEED TO KNOW:
· MF Marisa Viggiano had 21 appearances, 14 starts during the 2021 NWSL regular season
· Houston will send DF Megan Montefusco (Oyster), $30,000 in allocation money and OL Reign’s natural third-round draft pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft to Orlando.
· Viggiano will join the Dash in Houston later this month ahead of NWSL preseason
HOUSTON – The Houston Dash have acquired midfielder Marisa Viggiano in a trade with the Orlando Pride, the clubs announced today. Houston will send defender Megan Montefusco (formerly Oyster), $30,000 in allocation money and OL Reign’s natural third-round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, which was acquired by Houston in a previous trade, to the Pride.
Viggiano appeared in 21 matches and made 14 starts for the Pride during the 2021 NWSL regular season. The Troy, Michigan native is entering her fourth season in the NWSL after being drafted by the Pride in the 2019 NWSL draft out of Northwestern University.
Montefusco arrived in Houston at the beginning of 2020 following a trade with OL Reign. The Illinois native made her Dash debut during the 2020 Challenge Cup and helped Houston win its first league trophy. Montefusco appeared in 32 games across all competitions with the Dash, including 21 during the 2021 NWSL season.
With the addition of Viggiano, the Dash now have 22 players under contract for the 2022 season.
TRANSACTION: Dash acquire MF Marisa Viggiano via trade with Orlando. Houston will send DF Megan Montefusco, $30,000 in allocation money and OL Rein’s natural third-round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft to Orlando.
PLAYER PROFILE – MARISA VIGGIANO
FULL NAME: Marisa Viggiano
PRONUNCIATION: VIH-jee-AH-no
DATE OF BIRTH: February 5, 1997
HEIGHT: 5-4
BIRTHPLACE: Troy, Michigan
HOMETOWN: Troy, Michigan
PREVIOUS CLUB: Orlando Pride
FIFA NATIONALITY: United States
2022 HOUSTON DASH ROSTER (22):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell, Ella Dederick, Lindsey Harris
DEFENDERS (4): Allysha Chapman, Haley Hanson, Katie Naughton, Annika Schmidt
MIDFIELDERS (8): Hannah Diaz, Shea Groom, Makame Gomera-Stevens, Kelcie Hedge, Gabby Kessler, Emily Ogle, Sophie Schmidt, Marisa Viggiano
FORWARDS (7): Michaela Abam, Michelle Alozie, Joelle Anderson, Rachel Daly, Paulina Gramaglia, Nichelle Prince, María Sánchez
