Sept. 7, 2010

BERKELEY - U.S. women's senior national team head coach Pia Sundhage named California senior forward Alex Morgan as one of the 30 players to a preliminary roster for two matches against China. The games will take place on Oct. 2 at the Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. (3 p.m. PT), and on Oct. 6 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. (4 p.m. PT on ESPN2).

"I'm really looking forward to another camp with the national team," Morgan said. "It's been a great experience so far, and I hope to continue with the team for as long as I can."

After attending several training camps with the senior team, Morgan made her first appearance with the U.S. national team this past March in a match against Mexico, which the U.S. defeated, 1-0. Playing in snow - a first for the Americans - Morgan saw a full half of play versus Mexico, playing alongside the players she idolized as a prepster. In May, the Diamond Bar, Calif., native's good luck and athletic talents earned her an invitation to join the team for a game against Germany.

"Alex has worked hard on her craft as a goal-scorer," Cal head coach Neil McGuire said. "We look forward to seeing her excel with the national team now and into the future."

Morgan, who is this week's Pac-10 Player of the Week, is a candidate for collegiate soccer's two most prestigious awards - the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and the Hermann trophy. The 5-7 starter has led Cal in scoring in each of the past three seasons and ranks fourth on the all-time scoring list with 38 goals. Last year, Morgan paced the Bears in goals (14), assists (8), points (36), shots (97) and shots on goal (55) in addition to registering three game-winning goals. She has already registered a team-high seven goals in Cal's five games this season.

Sundhage will open a training camp in Kennesaw, outside of Atlanta, on Sept. 20 that consists mostly of players from Women's Professional Soccer clubs who did not make the playoffs. As teams are eliminated from the playoffs, and after the WPS Championship on Sept. 26, additional players will join the national team camp at various times leading into the USA's first match against China.

Sundhage will name 18 players to suit up for each of the China matches, which will be the final international games before a 20-player roster is chosen for the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament, taking place from Oct. 28-Nov. 9 in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

"This is a very important camp as the team will get some quality time together to work on some tactical elements as we prepare for World Cup qualifying," Sundhage said. "It's also a great opportunity for our players to have two tough games before the important qualifying matches, as well as for the coaches, as we will have to make some important final decisions on our roster that goes to Mexico. We will also get to have a look at some of the less experienced players who have played well in WPS this season and some of the youngest players in our pool, so I am excited to get a lot of good work done and to find out some valuable information during the three weeks."

Of the 30 players on the roster, 27 play for WPS clubs while Sundhage has also named two collegians in strikers Morgan and Sydney Leroux (a junior at UCLA), who teamed up to lead the USA to the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup title. Morgan has been called up to all three domestic events this year, but this is the first full national team call-up for Leroux.

UNITED STATES WOMEN'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION
USA vs. China
GOALKEEPERS (4): Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat)
DEFENDERS (9): Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Whitney Engen (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Independence), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Meghan Schnur (Sky Blue FC), Brittany Taylor (Sky Blue FC)
MIDFIELDERS (12): Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), Shannon Boxx (FC Gold Pride), Tobin Heath (Atlanta Beat), Sarah Huffman (Washington Freedom), Kristine Lilly (Boston Breakers), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Joanna Lohman (Philadelphia Independence), Kelley O'Hara (FC Gold Pride), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsay Tarpley (Chicago Red Stars)
FORWARDS (5): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Sydney Leroux (UCLA), Alex Morgan (California), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)