USWNT: Newcomers get big chance to impress Ellis

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Oct 18, 2016

U.S. national team coach Jill Ellis will get her first look at some of the NWSL's top young talent when the USA hosts Switzerland Wednesday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah (TV: ESPN2, 9 p.m. ET) in the first of two women's friendlies. She called in 11 uncapped players -- eight from the NWSL and three from college.

For nine players, this is their first call-up to the senior national team. They include 2016 NWSL MVP Lynn Williams, who led the Western New York Flash to the league title, and Houston Dash forward Kealia Ohai, who tied Williams for the league scoring lead with 11 goals.

Stanford goalkeeper Jane Campbell previously trained with the senior team in February 2013 when she was in high school. Chicago Red Stars midfielder Danielle Colaprico spent time in national team camps at the end of 2015 and beginning of 2016.

With many national team regulars resting, Ellis will have plenty of opportunities to look at new players. Only eight of the 24 players were with the USA when it won the 2015 Women's World Cup.

The two Switzerland games -- the second match will be played Sunday in Minneapolis -- will be followed by two matches against Romania next month in California.

U.S. Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): 18-Jane Campbell (Stanford), 1-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), 24- Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride).
DEFENDERS (7): 14-Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash), 11-Arin Gilliland (Chicago Red Stars), 15-Merritt Mathias (Seattle Reign), 5-Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), 8-Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), 12- Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC).
MIDFIELDERS (8): 6-Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), 22-Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), 17-Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), 9-Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), 10-Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), 20-Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), 3- Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), 19- Andi Sullivan (Stanford).
FORWARDS (6): 16-Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), 2-Shea Groom (FC Kansas City), 21-Ashley Hatch (BYU), 7-Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), 12-Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), 13- Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash).