Christen Press has been called back to the United States national team after being held out of the last camp because she was not affiliated with any club. The 44-time scorer for the U.S. refused to report to the Houston Dash following a January trade but has since resumed her career playing on a short-term contract with Goteberg FC in Sweden. If Press appears in both match she will hit 100 career international caps.
In all, Jill Ellis called up 24 players for matches against China on June 7 in Utah and June 12 in Cleveland. From those two dozen players, 18 will dress for each match. Other notable call-ups are McCall Zerboni and Merritt Mathias from the Courage, Midge Purce from the Thorns, and Amy Rodriguez of the Royals, back for the first time since tearing her ACL in April 2017.
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Among those left off were the Washington Spirit trio of Rose Lavelle, Mallory Pugh, and Andi Sullivan. Lavelle has spent much of the last year battling a hamstring injury and only returned to the Spirit in a limited capacity the last two matches. Sullivan has had an even rookie season and Pugh’s absence could be attributed to a late injury suffered Sunday night.
Ellis also shook up the goalkeeping group. Number one Alyssa Naeher and Ashlyn Harris are in, but Jane Campbell was left off. Called in were Abby Smith and Casey Murphy, a Sky Blue pick who was recently named Goalkeeper of the Year in France after half a season at Montpellier.
The full roster (with career caps/goals):
Goalkeepers (4): Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 15/0), Casey Murphy (Montpellier HSC, FRA; 0/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 28/0), Abby Smith (Utah Royals FC; 0/0)
Defenders (6): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 18/0), Tierna Davidson (Stanford; 6/0), Sofia Huerta (Chicago Red Stars; 5/0), Merritt Mathias (NC Courage; 0/0), Margaret Purce (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 137/0)
Midfielders (7): Morgan Brian (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 74/6), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 59/15), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 49/5), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 252/100), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 34/7), Allie Long (Seattle Reign FC; 37/6), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage; 1/0)
Forwards (7): Crystal Dunn (NC Courage; 62/23), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 132/18), Savannah McCaskill (Sky Blue FC; 5/0), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 140/85), Christen Press (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, SWE; 98/44), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 135/36), Amy Rodriguez (Utah Royals FC; 130/30)
