Jessica McDonald, Emily Menges added to USWNT training camp roster

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis has made two changes to the roster for the November training camp in California. Forward Jessica McDonald and defender Emily Menges will replace defenders Jaelene Hinkle and Meghan Klingenberg on the 24-player squad set to face Romania on Nov. 10 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose (7 p.m. PT; ESPN2) and on Nov. 13 at StubHub Center in Carson (6:30 p.m. PT; FS1).

Hinkle has been ruled out of WNT camp due to a lingering ankle injury, while Klingenberg has been ruled out due to a back injury.

McDonald has Youth National Team experience, playing with the U-17s, U-20s and U-23s. In 2007, Ellis coached her on the U-20 WNT during the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil where the USA claimed the silver medal after falling to Brazil’s senior squad in the final. McDonald scored against Paraguay and Argentina in that tournament. Menges was previously called into camp with the U-23 WNT in 2013.

The senior team call-up is the first for both McDonald and Menges.

McDonald is coming off a fantastic season with the 2016 NWSL Champion Western New York Flash. She started 19 games and scored 10 goals, second-most on the team behind NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner Lynn Williams, as well as second-most in the league. She finished in the top three in league standings for most assists (7), most shots (61) and most shots on goal (34). In the NWSL Championship game, McDonald provided the crucial assist to Williams that allowed the Flash to tie the match in the 124th minute.

In her third season as a professional player, Menges started all NWSL regular season 20 games and played every minute for the 2016 NWSL Shield winners Portland Thorns. She was part of a back line that allowed just 19 goals all year, the fewest in the league, and racked up an 8-1-1 home record.

The USA’s friendlies against Romania will conclude the competition schedule for the WNT this year. The USA is 20-0-3 in 2016 and will try to remain unbeaten in regulation for just the third time in a calendar year in which it has played 10 or more matches. The USA went 18-0-4 in 2006 and 13-0-3 in 2013. The penalty kick loss to Sweden in the Olympics officially counts as a tie.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Emily Menges (Portland Thorns FC), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign), Andi Sullivan (Stanford)

FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Jessica McDonald (Western New York Flash), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)