Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Jill Ellis Names 23-Player Roster for USWNT Friendlies Against Chile

Jill Ellis Names 23-Player Roster

CARSON, CALIFORNIA (August 22, 2018) — The final tune up before the U.S. Women’s National Team competes in FIFA World Cup qualifying is set.

Jill Ellis, USWNT head coach, has named her 23-player roster ahead of friendlies against Chile. The South American country is already qualified for the World Cup, marking the nation’s first-ever tournament participation.

Jill Ellis Names 23-Player Roster for USWNT Friendlies vs. Chile

The United States has never faced Chile before.

“We’ve never played them before, but their style of play will be helpful in our final preparations for World Cup qualifiers,” Ellis said. “Our players are obviously deep into the chase for NWSL playoff spots, and they are coming off some intense games, so this will be a good chance to get the group together and share playing time before we come back together in October.”

Ellis has brought familiar faces back into the fold. Joining the roster again is 20-year-old striker, Mallory Pugh. The Washington Spirit attacker was previously left off the last two rosters with an injury.

Now, fully recovered, Pugh is back in the USWNT fold. She joins Kelley O’Hara as an injured player to make the roster, being back to full health.

“Our team is in a good place coming off the Tournament of Nations and this is a great time to get two games against a country that has already qualified for the World Cup,” Ellis said.

The College Kids

Every player on the roster has an appearance with the national team. However, Hailie Mace is looking to make only her second appearance. Mace, a student-athlete at the University of California, Los Angeles, is essentially featuring at her “home stadium.”

Mace is from Ventura, Calif., which is two hours away from Carson, where the first match against Chile will be held at the StubHub Center.

However, Mace is not the only student-athlete on the latest USWNT roster. Tierna Davidson, a regular starter at center back, has been called up for another camp. Davidson, who features at Stanford University, has 10 appearances to her name.

Both players are already training with their respective college teams.

Allie Long Left Off Due to Injury; Jane Campbell Campbell, Sofia Huerta Snubbed

Allie Long’s name was not found on the roster.

Instead, Long is rehabilitating a knee injury, which she suffered during play with her club team, the Seattle Reign FC. On Wednesday, the Reign officially punched its ticket to the 2018 NWSL playoffs.

Meanwhile, fighting for a spot in the playoffs is the Houston Dash. The planning for the final stretch of the season will include input from Sofia Huerta and goalkeeper Jane Campbell. Both players were not named to Ellis’ squad.

Instead, they will remain with the Dash and head coach Vera Pauw.

Since her arrival in Houston, Huerta has been doing as expected of her. She has been scoring goals — four in total — and providing assists — three for the Dash. Meanwhile, Campbell has been having a solid month of August.

The Dash are the only team in the NWSL to not have a player at the USWNT camp.

The 23-Player Roster

Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch, Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher

Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna Davidson, Hailie Mace, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Casey Short, Emily Sonnett

Midfielders: Morgan Brian, Julie Ertz, Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Samantha Mewis, McCall Zerboni, Carli Lloyd

Forwards: Crystal Dunn, Tobin Heath, Mallory Pugh, Christen Press, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe

Embed from Getty Images

Share:

More Posts

Send Us A Message