Although football is a tough, grinding sport and everyone looks forward to the offseason it is pretty hard to turn down a trip to Hawaii. After proving to be vital cogs to the Washington Spirit’s playoff run Ali Krieger and Crystal Dunn were rewarded with a call-up to the United States Women’s National Team.
The USWNT will wrap up their 2015 campaign with four matches in December. They will play Trinidad & Tobago on December the 6th at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii (8pm EST Fox Sports 1) and again on December the 10th in San Antonio at the Alamodome (9pm EST ESPN 2). They will then face China on December the 13th at the University of Phoenix Stadium (7pm EST ESPN2) and on December the 16th at the Superdome in New Orleans (8pm Fox Sports 1).
Dunn, 23, had a career season with the Spirit in 2015 scoring 15 goals and leading the squad to the semifinals in the NWSL playoffs. For her efforts she was named the league’s MVP and was also given the Golden Boot award.
What will be interesting to see is if she has a chip on her shoulder after being one of the final cuts from coach Jill Ellis’ roster ahead of the Women’s World Cup. She has made the most of her recent opportunities with the senior side having scored three goals in the USWNT’s last four matches. Given that the United States lacks a winger in their early 20’s and with the Olympics coming up next summer she should factor prominently into Ellis’ plans going forward.
Krieger, 31, made just eight appearances for the Spirit last season after spending most of the season with the USWNT. She was an integral figure along the back four for Ellis during the USA’s World Cup run and will continue to plug holes for the side for the immediate future. With the retirement of Laura Chalupny and Christie Rampone’s future uncertain look for Krieger to assume more of a leadership role ahead of Olympic qualifying.
Full Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (10): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Jaelene Hinkle (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Univ. of Virginia)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western NY Flash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (7): Lindsey Horan (PSG), Sydney Leroux (Western NY Flash), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (unattached)
