Sept. 8, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Three Penn State women's soccer alumnae had their names called on Tuesday by Pia Sundhage when the United States Women's National Team plays China on Oct. 2 and Oct. 6.
The preliminary 30-woman roster includes recent graduate Alyssa Naeher as well as 2007 alum Ali Krieger and 2004 graduate Joanna Lohman. Naeher and Lohman have had sparkling campaigns in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) for their respective teams, Boston and Philadelphia.
Since taking over the reins in net for the Breakers, Naeher has started 15 games with a 9-4-1 overall record including two shutouts. Naeher's improved play has helped Boston earn their first playoff appearance in franchise history with a 10-8-5 record, good for second place. Naeher is one of four `keepers on the squad as Hope Solo, Nicole Barnhart and Jill Loyden join the team representing the top four netminders in WPS. Naeher has never earned a cap on the full national team before after her Golden Glove-winning performance at the 2008 U-20 Women's World Cup.
Lohman has achieved a professional resurgence since making the expansion Philadelphia Independence. Lohman, who was cut from the Washington Freedom last season and began to run the W-League franchise's front office at general manager, sought a second chance in the highest rung of women's pro soccer. She has exceeded expectations, earning a permanent starting spot and notching five goals during the season, which ranks her tied for 10th in the league. Overall, she's played in all 23 matches with 19 starts, helping the expansion side clinch a playoff berth in its inaugural season. Lohman has nine caps with the U.S. National Team, but none since 2007.
Krieger has enjoyed enormous success with the full team since rejoining the squad earlier this year. She has three caps after a two-year hiatus from international play. Krieger, who plies her trade in Germany with FFC Frankfurt, is the only American not playing in WPS. Most recently, Krieger came in as a 77th minute substitution against Sweden on July 13 in Omaha, Neb., a 1-1 draw. In the second game of the series against Sweden, Krieger started and played the full 90 for a revamped U.S. backline that kept the Swedes scoreless in a 3-0 win on July 17 in East Hartford, Conn.
The three former Nittany Lion stars will convene with the other National Team members on Sept. 20 in Kennesaw, Ga. for training camp ahead of the two friendlies with China. The first match will take place Oct. 2 at the KSU Soccer Stadium in Georgia before the three make a bit of a homecoming with an Oct. 6 match at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia. Ultimately, 18 players will be called upon to suit up for each of the matches. After the matches, Sundhage will name her 20-player team she will bring to Mexico for the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Tournament, which runs from Oct. 28-Nov. 9.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, please visit GoPSUsports.com.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Twitter: @PSUWomensSoccer.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Facebook: Facebook.com/PSUWomensSoccer.
Check Penn State's YouTube page: YouTube/GoPSUTV.
--NITTANY LIONS--