Lilly Rejoins National Team

US Preparing for Tilts with China

December 3, 2008

CHICAGO – After a year off, Connecticut native and Boston Breaker Kristine Lilly will make her return to the U.S. Women’s National Team this month.

Kristine Lilly

Kristine Lilly will be returning to the US National Team. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Lilly was one of 22 players called into The Home Depot Center by head coach Pia Sundhage in preparation for the Americans’ two games against China on Dec. 13 and 17.

Lilly, the only woman to play in all five FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, took most of 2008 off as she gave birth to her first child, a daughter, last June. Lilly is by far the world’s all-time leader in caps at 340, but has not played for the U.S. in over a year, last appearing on Oct. 20, 2007, in a 1-1 draw with Mexico.

Two other Breakers – defender Heather Mitts and forward Angela Hucles – were also named to the roster.

Two of the youngest members of the 2008 Olympic gold medal team also return to the roster after finishing their college seasons. Forward Amy Rodriguez, who recently finished her senior season at USC, played a key role in the USA’s gold medal triumph, starting the last five games of the Olympics. Forward Lauren Cheney, who last weekend helped UCLA to its sixth consecutive NCAA Final Four, played a key role for the USA in China, coming off the bench in the final three games to give valuable minutes to the team.

All of the players who were on the field during the historic win against Brazil in the gold medal game are on the 22-player roster.

U.S. Women's National Team Roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (Gilbertsville, Pa.), Hope Solo (Richland, Wash.), Briana Scurry (Dayton, Minn.)

DEFENDERS (8): Rachel Buehler (Del Mar, Calif.), Lori Chalupny (St. Louis, Mo.), Stephanie Cox (Elk Grove, Calif.), Marian Dalmy (Lakewood, Colo.), Tina Ellertson (Vancouver, Wash.), Kate Markgraf (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Heather Mitts (Cincinnati, Ohio), Christie Rampone (Point Pleasant, N.J.)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Shannon Boxx (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Carli Lloyd (Delran, N.J.), Heather O’Reilly (East Brunswick, N.J.), Lindsay Tarpley (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Aly Wagner (San Jose, Calif.), Kacey White (Arlington, Texas)

FORWARDS (5): Lauren Cheney (Indianapolis, Ind.), Angela Hucles (Virginia Beach, Va.), Natasha Kai (Kahuku, Hawaii), Kristine Lilly (Wilton, Conn.), Amy Rodriguez (Lake Forest, Calif.)

Return from Lilly Rejoins National Team to Women's Soccer

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