Victory finalises W-League squad for 2016/17 season

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Melbourne Victory has signed international pair Bianca Henninger and Samantha Johnson on loan, completing its squad for the Westfield W-League 2016/17 season.

Henninger has arrived as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper from Houston Dash, while Johnson is a defender from Chicago Red Stars.

Earlier this week, Victory confirmed striker Natasha Dowie and midfielder Christine Nairn as its other foreign signings for the upcoming campaign.

Henninger, 25, has represented the USA at under-20 and under-23 level and spent the past three years at Houston alongside Westfield Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams.

Johnson, who has been a mainstay in Chicago’s defence for the past three seasons, also represented Sydney FC in the Westfield W-League 2014/15 season.

The 25-year-old was opposed to Nairn recently in the Semi Finals of the US National Women’s Soccer League, which Nairn’s Washington Spirit won 2-1 in extra time.

Completing the squad, former Victory striker Caitlin Friend has returned to the club for the new season, while 18-year-old goalkeeper Bethany Mason-Jones has been signed from Calder United in the PlayStation 4 NPL Victoria Women’s competition.

Victory’s Westfield W-League campaign starts with a trip to Coopers Stadium to take on Adelaide United on Sunday, November 6.

To view the full fixture and download it to your calendar, click here.

Melbourne Victory W-League squad: 1.Bianca HENNINGER (gk), 2.Alexandra NATOLI, 3.Alex CHEAL, 4.Melissa TARANTO, 6.Annabel MARTIN, 7.Lia PRIVITELLI, 8.Ayesha NORRIE, 9.Natasha DOWIE, 10.Christine NAIRN, 11.MelindaJ MARBIERI, 13.Laura SPIRANOVIC, 14.Selin KURALAY, 15.Adriana TARANTO, 16.Samantha JOHNSON, 17.Gulcan KOCA, 19.Rachel ALONSO, 20.Bethany MASON-JONES (gk), 22.Caitlin FRIEND