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PROVO — BYU senior Ashley Hatch leads the nation with 15 goals scored for the fifth-ranked BYU women’s soccer team, which continues West Coast Conference play Thursday at Loyola-Marymount.
The Gilbert, Arizona native is ready to go national.
Hatch was one of 24 players called into training camp by U.S. women’s national team coach Jill Ellis before a pair of international friendlies against Switzerland.
The USA will face the Swiss at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. MT (ESPN2), followed by a game against the same side Oct. 23 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota (FS1).
"We are extremely excited and proud of Ashley and this accomplishment," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said in a statement from the school. "She is an amazing player and goal scorer. Our team will miss her while she is with the them, but this experience and opportunity is huge."
The roster represents a significant overhaul in the wake of a high number of retirements following the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Hatch is one of three college players in camp, joining Stanford goalkeeper Jane Campbell and Cardinal midfielder Andi Sullivan, and one of 11 players currently uncapped by the senior national team.
Hatch is the third BYU player in program history to receive an invitation to join the senior national team, and the first since current Cougar assistant coach Aleisha (Cramer) Rose in 2002.
Former Alta High star Kealia Ohai, who had a breakout season for the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League, was also named to the roster.
“Right now, we are in a phase where we want to try to expand the player pool, look at a number of players and start the long process to qualifying for the next World Cup,” Ellis said in a statement from U.S. Soccer. “That means several of our more experienced players won’t be in for this camp while we get to evaluate some different personnel. In order to see if these players can contribute, we need to get them into a national team training environment and in games.”
Former Pepperdine standout Lynn Williams, the 2016 NWSL Golden Boot winner with 11 goals for the Western New York Flash, headlines the new selections, as well as veterans like Houston midfielder Carli Lloyd, Washington striker Crystal Dunn and Chicago forward Christen Press.
Below is Ellis’ 24-player roster by position. The coach will name an 18-player active roster for both friendlies at a later date.
GOALKEEPERS: Jane Campbell (Stanford), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS: Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash), Arin Gilliland (Chicago Red Stars), Merritt Mathias (Seattle Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Andi Sullivan (Stanford)
FORWARDS: Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Shea Groom (FC Kansas City), Ashley Hatch (BYU), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)
