COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M had two former standouts earn roster spots on the United States Women's National Team which is headed to training camp and a pair matches against Switzerland in mid-October. Shea Groom and Merritt Mathias were among 24 players named to a squad that will challenge the Swiss on October 19 in Sandy, Utah, and October 23 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Following the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, the United States begins the new cycle leading up to qualifying for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Groom and Mathias were among 11 uncapped players selected by United States Women's National Team head coach Jill Ellis for the training camp and matches.
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The contests against Switzerland will only be the third and fourth meetings between the two countries, with the USA winning both previous bouts. The Americans triumphed 4-1 on Aug. 20, 2014 in Cary, N.C. and 3-0 on March 6, 2015 at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.
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Groom, in her second season of NWSL play, led FC Kansas City with eight goals on the year. The 2014 SEC Offensive Player of the Year started all 26 matches as a senior, registering 39 points on 16 goals and seven assists. In 2014, she became the first Aggie to earn All-America First Team and Academic All-America First Team recognition. In her career, Groom played in 84 matches, including 79 starts, notching 107 points on 41 goals and 25 assists. She was a two-time All-American and three-time All-SEC performer.
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Mathias started 17 matches as a defender for the Seattle Reign this season. After transferring from North Carolina, Mathias spent her final two seasons with the Aggies, helping them to a pair of Big 12 Championships and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Second Round in 2010-11. She garnered two All-Big 12 First Team selections and spots on the 2010 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and the 2011 All-Big 12 Tournament Team. As a senior she netted eight goals, three of them game winners and registered 11 assists. In her junior season she scored nine goals, including four game-winners, and add five assists.
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The duo continues a recent run of Aggies earning call-ups to senior national teams. Grace Wright earned a spot on the Ireland Women's National Team last spring and Stephanie Malherbe played for the South Africa National Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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U.S. Women's National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell, Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (7): 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 (8): 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
FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Shea Groom (FC Kansas City), Ashley Hatch, Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)
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Following the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, the United States begins the new cycle leading up to qualifying for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Groom and Mathias were among 11 uncapped players selected by United States Women's National Team head coach Jill Ellis for the training camp and matches.
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The contests against Switzerland will only be the third and fourth meetings between the two countries, with the USA winning both previous bouts. The Americans triumphed 4-1 on Aug. 20, 2014 in Cary, N.C. and 3-0 on March 6, 2015 at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.
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Groom, in her second season of NWSL play, led FC Kansas City with eight goals on the year. The 2014 SEC Offensive Player of the Year started all 26 matches as a senior, registering 39 points on 16 goals and seven assists. In 2014, she became the first Aggie to earn All-America First Team and Academic All-America First Team recognition. In her career, Groom played in 84 matches, including 79 starts, notching 107 points on 41 goals and 25 assists. She was a two-time All-American and three-time All-SEC performer.
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Mathias started 17 matches as a defender for the Seattle Reign this season. After transferring from North Carolina, Mathias spent her final two seasons with the Aggies, helping them to a pair of Big 12 Championships and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Second Round in 2010-11. She garnered two All-Big 12 First Team selections and spots on the 2010 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and the 2011 All-Big 12 Tournament Team. As a senior she netted eight goals, three of them game winners and registered 11 assists. In her junior season she scored nine goals, including four game-winners, and add five assists.
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The duo continues a recent run of Aggies earning call-ups to senior national teams. Grace Wright earned a spot on the Ireland Women's National Team last spring and Stephanie Malherbe played for the South Africa National Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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U.S. Women's National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell, Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (7): 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 (8): 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
FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Shea Groom (FC Kansas City), Ashley Hatch, Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)