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Solo, Wambach, Morgan among 19 selected for USWNT friendly with Switzerland

Abby Wambach goal celebration

By RYAN TOLMICH

The attacking stars of the U.S. Women’s National Team will be on full display in Cary, North Carolina.

Head coach Jill Ellis has named 19 players for the U.S.’s upcoming clash against Switzerland, with national team mainstays Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux among those selected for the Aug. 20 encounter.

Of the 19 players selected, 18 play in the National Women’s Soccer League. Midfielder Morgan Brian is the lone exception, as she currently features for the University of Virginia.

“With the very short time together, we’re just bringing in these 19 players, but we’re excited about the chance to play a team that has some talented attackers and that will be in the World Cup next summer,” Ellis said in press release from U.S. Soccer. “It’s been tremendous to watch our players compete in the NWSL this season and I’m really excited to get them together for what will be another great test for our team.”

Despite recent legal controversy, goalkeeper Hope Solo will likely pursue the national team’s all-time shutout record, as the Seattle Reign FC is currently tied for the all-time lead with former U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry at 71 career shutouts.

For their part, Switzerland are one of six sides to have already qualified for the 2015 World Cup, the first in the team’s history. The Swiss have been dominant throughout qualifying, boasting a 8-0-1 record in qualifying.

The North Carolina meeting will be the first time the U.S. women face Switzerland in the team’s history.

Here’s a closer look at the full U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the upcoming game:

GOALKEEPERS: Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS: Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City)

MIDFIELDERS: Morgan Brian (Virginia), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS: Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)

Comments

  1. Would have loved see Lindsey Horan and Kealia Ohai get call-ups rather than Amy Rodriguez and Heather O’Reilly. I think Horan and Ohai will be such a great combination of size, speed, and technique in the future. If we can’t win it all in 2015, it’s time to start rebuilding and bringing in some new blood, that would mean playing the Morgan Brian’s, Cari Roccaro’s (rather than Rampone) and Vanessa DiBernardo’s of the world.

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  2. Where’s KoH — I love seeing Kelly play left back and getting forward into the attack. Her speed and ball distribution are deadly. Anyone know why she didn’t get a call-up? Injury?

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  3. And Luis Suarez is a great striker but he bites people. Being a good or even great player should not elevate your status as a human being, or absolve you of the consequences of your actions off the field.

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    • Not a close comparison at all.

      The ct system is handling her off-the-field problem. And i suspect there will be some sort of plea about a family dispute that got out of hand. Let’s remember, there’s no child abuse accusation here. She got into a scrap with some family members.

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  4. I find it a bit depressing that there aren’t enough quality young central defenders to knock Christie Rampone off the depth chart.

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  5. I cannot wait until Solo stops receiving call-ups. She is a divisive force on and off the field and she is only there for the marketing and notoriety unrelated to soccer. Eddie Johnson takes more heat for dumb comments than Solo takes for these idiotic decisions.

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    • Hope Solo is the world’s best female goalkeeper; that is why she is on the team, and it is why she is an automatic starter when she is healthy.

      Both her club team and US Soccer (i.e. Gulati) have said that they will wait until after her trial before they take any action against her, which is a very American attitude of “innocent until proven guilty”.

      P.S. The difference in the Seattle Reign from before she joined the team and after is night and day.

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      • Agreeance. She’s the best there is right now. There’s a certain segment of USWNT fans who just can’t stand her b/c she a bit different than the rest of upper middle class suburban sleep-over-pajama-party-set that has dominated the women’s roster. Nothing wrong with that set, they’re just not Solo’s cup of tea..and Solo’s not some fans’ cup of tea.

    • Totally disagree. Hope has no filter, she is honest and says what she thinks. She also has some issues which are understandable. But she is a great competitor and teammate. Wambach is the divisive one that needs to go

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      • yep, I agree with that Wood chip zip.
        I haven’t heard of any issues that players have had with Hope.
        I keep hoping Abby will retire on her own. She’s meant so much to the team, but, it may be time to step down. I’m not sure if she can handle the late sub role without causing problems in the lockerroom.

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