CHICAGO — On Monday Chicago’s 2019 began with the start of preseason training. While there are plenty of familiar faces with 18 players returning from last year’s roster, new faces were brought in to bolster the team as they search for their fifth consecutive playoff appearance.

The Red Stars have 11 new draftees and tryout invitees available for this preseason, battling for a spot on the team’s roster when the regular season opens on April 13th.

Below is a list of the draftees and preseason invitees for 2019:

Tierna Davidson (Stanford University, 2019 Draft Pick)

It should come as no surprise Davidson is one of the most sought-after prospects in recent memory. The recipient of the 2018 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, Davidson helped her country win 2018 She Believes Cup and Tournament of Nations. She became the first U.S. National Team player since Julie Foudy in 1994 to play 90 minutes in each of her first five senior international caps.

Making History.

With the #1 pick in the 2019 @NWSL College Draft, the Chicago Red Stars select @tierna_davidson.#NWSLdraft | #mkot pic.twitter.com/VGS0F8UriC

— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) January 10, 2019

At Stanford, Davidson was a key member of the 2017 National Championship squad, being named the College Cup’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player and the PAC-12’s Defensive Player of the Year that same season.

Davidson continues to be an integral part of the U.S. WNT as they continue preparation for the 2019’s Women’s World Cup this summer. In the SheBelieves Cup, she played in all three games, starting in two.

Maria Sanchez (University of Santa Clara, 2019 Draft Pick)

Sanchez transferred to Julie Ertz’s alma mater, Santa Clara, in 2017 and became one of the most lethal offensive players in the country. In her first season with the Broncos, her five goals and six assists were a solid start, but she showed how much offensive firepower she brings in 2018. Sanchez led the nation with 16 assists her senior year and added a team-high eight goals, making her an obvious choice for the Fist Team All-WCC and First Team All-West Region.

https://twitter.com/chiredstarsPR/status/1084158505727213568

Sanchez also brings more international experience to Chicago. Along with Red Stars teammates Katie Johnson and Christina Murillo, she is a member of the Mexican National Team.

Kayla Sharples (Northwestern University, 2019 Draft Pick)

Sharples was an All-Big Ten First Team selection three consecutive seasons and played every single minute of Northwestern Season in 2017 and 2018. In those two years, she helped the Wildcats notch 19 shutouts.

Her presence was felt on the offensive end as well. Sharples found the back of the net on six occasions her final two years.

April Bockin (University of Minnesota, 2019 Draft Pick)

In her 72 games with the Gophers, Bockin netted 26 goals, including a career-high 13 in 2018 alone, five of which were game-winners. Her junior year she started all 19 games, tallied the third most assists in the NCAA with 12 in addition to scoring four goals of her own.

Against Michigan State, Bockin tied a program and conference record with four assists in just 36 minutes.

Hannah Davison (Northwestern University, 2019 Draft Pick)

As a sophomore Davison and Northwestern had the lowest goal against average in the nation, allowing a mere .29 goals per game and her defense led the nation in shutouts as well with 17. Davison and the dominant defense propelled the Wildcats to the 2016 Big Ten Championship.

In her senior season, the Wildcats went 668 minutes without allowing a goal, the longest streak in program history. In 2018 Davison and the Northwestern defense held opposing teams to .68 goals per game.

Jenna Szczesny (Loyola University Chicago, 2019 Draft Pick)

In her first two years as a Rambler, Szczesny was named to the All-MVC Second Team. She helped Loyola reach the MVC Championship game and was a member of the MVC All-Tournament team.

She finished off her Loyola career by scoring 11 goals, moving her up to second all-time in Rambler history. In her final MVC Tournament, she would lead Loyola to a championship game victory and take home the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Jill Vetere (University of Cincinnati, Open Tryout Invitee)

Over the past two years, Vetere has been a solid finisher and playmaker for the Bearcats. In 2017, she scored six goals and assisted on four additional scores.

Vetere matched that assist tally her senior campaign, scoring an additional five goals her final season at Cincinnati.

Chelsea Supris (University of Texas Arlington, Open Tryout Invitee)

Consistency is the word that comes to mind when Chelsea Supris comes up in Arlington. Her junior season she played 2,0004 of the possible 2,0005 minutes on a season that included a trip to the Sweet 16.

In her senior season, she started in 13 matches in 18 games played and notched her first career assist.

Kelly Fitzgerald (University of California Berkley, Preseason Camp Invitee)

Fitzgerald was a team captain for Cal in 2017. In 15 games she had five points on the season with one goal and three assists. As a defensive midfielder, she helped Cal allow only 11 goals, tying the program record and earned a place on the All-Pac 12 Third Team.

Megan Hinz (University of Michigan, Preseason Camp Invitee)

Hinz was stellar throughout her career for the Wolverines. She finished her career in the all-time top ten in four different categories: fourth in goals-against average (0.97, sixth in wins (25), seventh in shutouts (11.4) and ninth in saves (125).

Alison Jahansouz (Stanford University, Preseason Camp Invitee)

A member of the 2017 National Championship team alongside Davidson, Jahansouz was a member of the College Cup All-Tournament Team. She finished the year with 11 shutouts, ranking her eighth all-time in program history.

As a senior, Jahansouz matched her 11 shutouts from 2017, finishing with a record of 17-1-2 with 0.50 goals against average and a spot on the All-Pac 12 Second Team.