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SANDY — U.S. Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis doesn’t have to immediately look forward to an Olympic Games, or start to defend Team USA’s Women’s World Cup title, making the remainder of 2016 a vital time to expand the U.S. player pool as the national team looks to move forward from a number of high-profile retirements.
What a perfect time for local soccer standouts Ashley Hatch of BYU and former Alta High star Kealia Ohai.
Hatch and Ohai are two of nine first-time players called into camp with the national team ahead of Wednesday’s international friendly against Switzerland at 7 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium.
“These next few years are an important time for this team to grow,” said U.S. midfielder Tobin Heath, a veteran with 124 caps available this week. “Obviously, we lost a number of players the last two cycles, so we need to continue to get better and try to find those players who will help this team grow and develop.”
The future may involve two local products who came to soccer on the Wasatch Front in different ways. And Hatch and Ohai have taken quite different paths to their first call-up into the senior squad.
For Hatch, the BYU senior burst on the national stage in a big way in 2016. A year after missing most of the regular season with a knee injury, the Gilbert, Arizona, native leads the NCAA with 15 goals and has the No. 8 Cougars (12-2-1, 3-1-1 West Coast Conference) primed for another run in the postseason tournament next month.
But first, there’s a matter of attending to her first appearance — be it starting, on the bench, or simply in camp — for the young striker with a bright future.
“There are a lot of emotions,” Hatch said before training Monday. “A lot of excitement, a lot of nerves. I’m just super anxious to come out here and play with the best.”
Hatch, who was not available for BYU’s 3-0 win over Portland last Saturday and could miss Friday’s match at San Diego as well, didn’t expect to be called into camp as early as she did. One of three college players on the 24-player roster, she’ll boast a significant amount of support from her BYU teammates and extended family traveling to Sandy from Arizona for the contest.
Whether she plays or not is still anyone’s guess (only 18 players make the roster for Wednesday’s match, as well as next week’s friendly in Minneapolis). But for Hatch, just being in training has been a remarkable experience.
“I’ve already gotten a lot, just learning and improving as a player, mentally and physically,” Hatch said. “I’m just getting used to the speed of play.
“It’s been awesome. I wake up every morning, and come to breakfast with them like ‘these girls are awesome.’ It’s cool to rub shoulders with them and see how they live.”
Ohai’s call up has been longer in the making. After leading Alta High to four straight state titles from from 2006-09, the two-time Utah Gatorade Utah Player of the Year went on to win a national championship at North Carolina and a U-20 World Cup in 2012.
The second overall pick in the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League draft by the expansion Houston Dash, Ohai tied Western New York star Lynn Williams with 11 goals in 2015 — a league high, with Williams taking the Golden Boot award on tiebreakers.
“I think the biggest thing for me was producing with the Dash,” Ohai said. “As a forward, I knew I needed to score goals. I was happy to be able to do that this season. It’s definitely the goal I had throughout my career.”
Ohai’s contributions weren’t overlooked, however, when she and Williams were called into camp — another first-timer among a handful of veterans like Crystal Dunn and Tobin Heath.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Ohai, whose family rented at suite at Rio Tinto Stadium for the special occasion. “But it’s difficult. There are so many quality players in our league and in this country. You really have to do something special to get called in. I knew that, and I understood that.
“I’m just happy I had a good season with the Dash, and I could get called in.”
Heath, who plays for the Portland Thorns in NWSL, admitted it’s been a long time coming for Ohai to get a look with the national team.
“I think I would’ve expected her to be in here earlier even,” she said. “But this team is highly competitive, and it’s hard to almost have an opportunity to bring in new players. It is that time in the cycle where we are able to do it, and it’s a great time for her.”
Ohai figures to have a significant fan base on hand Wednesday night, including several who will be wearing Alta High attire. Her former coach will be in attendance, as well as former club and high school teammates along with her sister and other family members who live in Houston.
Her spot on the gameday roster isn’t guaranteed, but no matter the outcome, Wednesday figures to be a special night.
“I played my high school championship game on that field, and my house is 15 minutes away,” Ohai said. “I literally grew up around these buildings, playing on these fields, and it’s crazy to be back here. I don’t get to come back to Utah a lot, so it’s been fun to be back, to see my family, and potentially get my first cap. Even if I am just here with the team, it’s an honor.”
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