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Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris Selected for US Roster Ahead of Match Against Canada

U.S. Women's National Team head coach Tom Sermanni has named Washington Spirit defender Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris to the 21-player roster that will travel to Toronto in preparation for the team's June 2 match against Canada.

Cynthia Hobgood

This will be the first meeting between the two countries since the 2012 Olympics semifinal, which saw the US come from behind three times to win 4-3 in the waning minutes of overtime. Much has been made of the "Rematch," including marketing it as such by the hosts. (Incidentally, neither Harris nor Krieger were on the US Olympic team. Harris was rehabbing after shoulder surgery; Krieger had just completed knee rehab after a torn ACL, but was not named to the roster.)

Sermanni will select 18 players from the training camp roster to play against Canada for the sold out match at BMO Field.

"It's always an important match when you play a neighbor, and with the strong contingent of Canadian players in the new league and how close the competition has become between the two countries over the past few years, there's an intensity about this game far greater than a typical international friendly," said Sermanni. "I know our players are really looking forward to the match and to the crowd, but also to getting back together as a national team and continuing to evolve in a positive direction."

The Spirit duo were on the most recent US rosters in March for the Algarve Cup in Portugal, during which Harris earned her first cap and Krieger scored her first international goal, as well as in April for friendlies against Germany and The Netherlands.

This marks the first time this season NWSL teams will be tested without their international players from the US and Canada, which has not yet announced its roster for the match. Spirit midfielder Diana Matheson is expected to be named, with the likely addition of defender Robyn Gayle. Defender Candace Chapman may be a longshot, as she's still getting back to full game fitness after a knee procedure this spring.

Krieger and Harris are two of 15 players currently rostered on NWSL clubs getting the nod from Sermanni. Both will be available for this weekend's May 25 road match against the Boston Breakers. They are scheduled to return to Washington to train with the Spirit following the June 2 friendly, though they could be called into camp again for US matches against South Korea on June 15 and June 20.

The USA is 44-3-5 all-time against Canada and has not lost to the Canadians since March 2001.

Also of note is the fact the grass field of BMO Field is not scheduled to host any games during the 2015 Women's World Cup. Canada has taken some criticism from international players for its plan to use fields with artificial surfaces.

U.S. Women's National Team Roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Jill Loyden (Sky Blue FC)

DEFENDERS (8): Rachel Buehler (Portland Thorns FC), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina), Whitney Engen (Liverpool), Julie Johnston (Santa Clara), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Amber Brooks (Bayern Munich), Lauren Cheney (FC Kansas City), Tobin Heath (Paris Saint-Germain), Carli Lloyd (Western NY Flash), Kristie Mewis (FC Kansas City), Heather O'Reilly (Boston Breakers)

FORWARDS (4):

Sydney Leroux (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Tyresö), Abby Wambach (Western NY Flash)