Four Thorns Called into USWNT Camp

Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Allie Long, and Rachel Van Hollebeke will be joining Jill Ellis' squad for their January Training Camp in Carson, California, the Thorns and U.S. Soccer announced Friday.

The Training Camp will take place from January 5-25 at the United States National Training Facility, in preparation for friendlies against France in Lorient, France on February 8, followed by a meeting with England at Milton Keynes, England on February 13.

Heath is the only Thorn to make recent appearances for the national team, helping lead the USWNT to the final of the 2014 International Tournament of Brasilia in December, which finished with a scoreless draw.

Morgan has been recovering from the ankle injury she suffered during the CONCACAF Women's Championships in mid-October, causing her to miss national team matches in October and December.

Long makes her first national team camp since September, but did not make the final roster for the CONCACAF Women's Championships, and will likely be fighting for a roster spot as we near the Women's World Cup in June.

Van Hollebeke returns to national team camp after spending the NWSL off-season with Iga FC, helping the Japanese side avoid relegation in the Japanese Nakeshiko League (First Division).  She will be making her first appearance in national team camp since September.

The January camp will be the first of many in preparation for the 2015 Women's World Cup which takes place from June 6-July 5 at 6 sites throughout Canada.  The United States have been drawn into Group D, along with Australia, Sweden, and Nigeria.

U.S. Women's National Team Roster By Position

GOALKEEPERS (4): Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS (10): Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Samantha Mewis (UCLA), Heather O'Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (Western NY Flash)

Portland Thorns Press Release-

MORGAN, HEATH, LONG, VAN HOLLEBEKE NAMED TO U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR JANUARY TRAINING CAMP

Four Thorns FC players to participate in 21-day training camp in California

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC forward Alex Morgan, midfielders Tobin Heath and Allie Long and defender Rachel Van Hollebeke have been selected to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for a training camp from Jan. 5 – Jan. 25 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif., it was announced today.

Morgan, 25, appeared in 14 matches (13 starts) for Thorns FC after missing the first half of the season while recovering from an ankle injury. The U.S. Women’s National Team forward finished the NWSL regular season with six goals and four assists. Morgan was named to the roster for the Brasilia Tournament, but did not participate in any matches as she continued to recover from her ankle injury suffered during the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championships in October. In 2014, Morgan appeared in seven matches (4 starts), recording five goals and four assists for the United States.

Heath, 26, made five appearances (all starts) for Thorns FC during the 2014 regular season. At the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championships, Heath appeared in four matches (3 starts), recording two goals and two assists as the United States finished first and qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. Heath appeared in 16 matches (10 starts) for the United States, recording three goals and four assists in 2014.

Long, 27, returns to camp with the U.S. Women’s National Team for the first time since September. A NWSL Second XI selection, Long ranked tied for fifth in the league with nine goals, appearing in 22 matches (20 starts) during the regular season for Thorns FC. Long played in four matches for the United States, earning two starts, while recording her first career assist and point against France on June 19 in 2014, and made her debut on May 8 against Canada.

Van Hollebeke, 29, who has been playing with Iga FC in Japan during the offseason, also returns to camp for the first time since September. In her second season with Thorns FC, Van Hollebeke, who was sidelined for part of 2014 due to injury, appeared in 12 matches (9 starts) during the regular season. The experienced U.S. Women’s National Team defender played in four matches in 2014 for the United States, earning three starts.

The U.S. Women’s National Team will return to international play in Europe with a match against France in Lorient on Feb. 8, followed by a meeting with England on Feb. 13 in Milton Keynes. The entire 2015 schedule for the run-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be announced at a later date.