Jessica McDonald and Emily Menges are headed to training camp with the senior U.S. women’s national team for the first time.
The pair will join the U.S. women’s national team this month ahead of two friendly matches against Romania, replacing fullbacks Jaelene Hinkle and Meghan Klingenberg, both of whom are injured. Hinkle has a lingering ankle injury and Klingenberg a back injury, according to U.S. Soccer.
McDonald scored 10 goals in the NWSL regular season in 2016, one off the pace of teammate and league MVP Lynn Williams. The pair helped the Western New York Flash win the NWSL Championship last month. McDonald also had seven assists.
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Menges started all 20 regular-season games, anchoring Portland’s league-best defense (19 goals allowed) en route to the Thorns winning the Shield.
McDonald has youth national team experience, playing for the U.S. at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels. Current U.S. coach Jill Ellis was in charge of the U-20 national team at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil, a team which McDonald helped win the silver medal.
Menges was called into U-23 camp in 2013.
The U.S. will play Romania on Nov. 10 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., and again on Nov. 13 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
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U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Emily Menges (Portland Thorns FC), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign), Andi Sullivan (Stanford)
FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Jessica McDonald (Western New York Flash), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)