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The U.S. women's national team's latest visit to Rio Tinto Stadium on Oct. 19 could have a tinge of Utah flair to it. On Thursday, U.S. head coach Jill Ellis named her 24-player roster for the upcoming training camp in preparation for back-to-back friendlies against Switzerland.
It includes a former Utah high school star and the current top scorer in women's Division I soccer.
Alta High product and Houston Dash forward Kealia Ohai and BYU striker Ashley Hatch are among the 11 players called up to the senior team for the first time. The Americans first face the Swiss on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy at 7 p.m. Four days later at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., the two sides will meet again.
"Right now, we are in a phase where we want to try to expand the player pool, look at a number of players and start the long process to qualifying for the next World Cup," Ellis said in a team release. "That means several of our more experienced players won't be in for this camp while we get to evaluate some different personnel. In order to see if these players can contribute, we need to get them into a national team training environment and in games."
Ohai, the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NWSL Draft by Houston, led Alta to four straight state championships from 2006 to 2009 and went on to star at the University of North Carolina where in 2012, she helped lead the Tar Heels to a national championship as an All-American. The 24-year-old from Draper scored 11 goals during the 2016 regular season for the Dash and was a finalist for the 2016 NWSL MVP award.
In 2012, Ohai scored the game-winning goal at the U.S. U-20 World Cup as the U.S. topped Germany 1-0.
"Our staff has been watching NWSL games this season and these are the ones that stood out," Ellis continued. "The league is vitally important to create a tremendous competitive environment for these players to show their talents as professionals and we are excited to give them a chance with the national team."
Hatch, BYU's senior striker from Gilbert, Ariz., leads the nation in goals scored with 15 for No. 5-ranked BYU. Hatch recently scored a hat trick in BYU's 4-0 win over San Francisco on Monday. She now has 43 goals and 19 assists during her career in Provo. The Cougars are off to a 9-1-1 start to their season.
According to the release from U.S. Soccer, Ellis opted not to call up several national-team veterans in order to give younger, less experienced players looks at the highest level. But the roster does have star power to it, though. Midfielders Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath, Morgan Brian will be in camp, as will strikers Christen Press and Crystal Dunn.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
U.S. women's national team roster
For friendlies vs. Switzerland:
Goalkeepers • Jane Campbell (Stanford), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders • Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash), Arin Gilliland (Chicago Red Stars), Merritt Mathias (Seattle Reign), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)
Midfielders • Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Andi Sullivan (Stanford)
Forwards • Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Shea Groom (FC Kansas City), Ashley Hatch (BYU), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)