The U.S. Women’s National Team will resume its 2017 schedule with a pair of friendlies against New Zealand, on Sept. 15 in Denver, Colorado (8 p.m. MT; ESPN2) and on Sept. 19 in Cincinnati, Ohio (7:30 p.m. ET; FS1), thus kicking off its fall schedule which will feature the final six matches of the year.
Since the conclusion of the 2017 Tournament of Nations – one which saw the USA fall to Australia, but then finish in second place after a thrilling comeback win against Brazil and a strong performance against Japan – the U.S. WNT players have been fully immersed in their NWSL clubs as the season rolls into the final weeks and the playoff picture becomes clearer.
The players selected for the U.S. roster will gather in Denver following Week 20 for the friendlies against New Zealand, after which, they will all head back to wrap up NWSL Season 5 with their clubs.
The September friendlies between the WNT and the Football Ferns will represent the 15th and 16th meetings in the history of the two sides, one which includes three matches in the Olympic Games. Most recently the teams met on Aug. 3, 2016 in the opening game of the Olympics. Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan scored for the USA in the 2-0 win.
The U.S. Women last played in Colorado on June 2, 2016 in the first of a two-game set of friendlies against Japan. The teams played to a wild 3-3 draw in front of a sell-out crowd at DSGP that saw the USA go down 2-0 after 22 minutes, only to roar back and take a 3-2 lead heading into stoppage time on goals in each half from Alex Morgan and a dramatic 89th minute header from hometown hero Lindsey Horan. Japan then equalized in the third minute of stoppage time.
This will mark the first visit to Cincinnati for the U.S. Women since 2008 and its first match at Nippert Stadium, home to FC Cincinnati of the United Soccer League. The club has drawn fantastic crowds since its debut in 2016 and put together a terrific performance during its U.S. Lamar Open Hunt run which saw the home side bow out during the semifinal round.
U.S. WNT Roster for New Zealand Friendlies By Position (Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars;18/0), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 1/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 13/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 7/0), Tierna Davidson (Stanford; 0/0), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 51/9), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC; 99/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City; 129/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 13/0), Taylor Smith (NC Courage; 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars; 67/6), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 131/18), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 37/3), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers; 6/2), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC; 30/5), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 28/5), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 123/33)
FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea FC; 54/22), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 128/74), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars; 90/43), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 26/5), Lynn Williams (NC Courage; 10/2)
