Houston Dash midfielders Morgan Brian, Carli Lloyd and defender Meghan Klingenberg have been called into U.S. Women's National Team camp in preparation for a friendly vs. New Zealand on April 4, U.S. head coach Jill Ellis announced today.
The roster includes the same 25 players that took part in the Algarve Cup earlier this month. The team will train in Los Angeles for a week before traveling to St. Louis for their first domestic match of the year against New Zealand at Busch Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Following the match, all three players are expected to join the Dash in preparation for their NWSL opener against the Washington Spirit on April 10 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Tickets are available here or by calling (713) 276-GOAL.
Lloyd, 32, has made 189 appearance for the U.S. and scored 63 goals. She appeared in every match at the Algarve Cup in Portugal this month, scoring twice in the opening match against Norway and captaining the side in the final, a 2-0 win over France.
Brian, 21, recorded her 25th international appearance for the USWNT against France at the Algarve Cup. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft started all four match as the Americans clinched the championship.
Klingenberg, 26, has earned 29 caps in international play, scoring once. The Pittsburgh native started the final three matches in Portugal after subbing on at halftime in the opening match.
The match against New Zealand begins a four-game run-up to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup for the USWNT, which includes three matches across the U.S. in May.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (10): Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (Unattached)
