Long Island’s Crystal Dunn and Allie Long are heading to Rio.
Both women were chosen to the United States women’s soccer team for next month’s Summer Olympics by head coach Jill Ellis, who announced her selections Tuesday.
Dunn, a Rockville Centre native, was one of the final cuts of last year’s Women’s World Cup team. Instead of moping, the 24-year-old forward went on a scoring tear for her National Women’s Soccer League club, the Washington Spirit, and was named league MVP and led the league in goal scoring.
She continued to find the net for the national team. She was awarded the Golden Boot in the CONCACAF Olympic tournament, scoring six goals, including five in a win over Puerto Rico.
Long, 28, a former standout at Northport High School, was considered a longshot to make the team before this year, but her overall play for the Portland Thorns (NWSL) and her ability to play attacking and defensive midfield roles for the national side boosted her chances.
In contrast to the 23-player roster at last year’s Women’s World Cup in Canada, the Olympic team can only have 18 players. So, Ellis looked for more versatile players. Dunn and Long fit the bill. Dunn, who played at South Side High School, also can play midfield and defense.
Fourteen players from the 2015 women’s world championship team were named to the team, including midfielder Carli Lloyd, the FIFA women’s world player of the year, goalkeeper Hope Solo, who became the first goalkeeper to record 100 international shutouts in the 1-0 win over South Africa last Saturday, and 18-year-old midfielder Mallory Pugh.
Standout midfielder Megan Rapinoe, who has been sidelined since late last year with a knee injury, also was named to the team. She has yet to play in any competitive matches this year.
“The last few camps capped a nine-month evaluation process and the players certainly made it a real challenge to narrow the roster down to 18,” Ellis said in a statement. “We’ve got a great blend of players with experience at the Olympic Games and in major events along with the youthful energy of some players who did not play in the Women’s World Cup last summer. As a coach in the Olympic Games, you want to put together a group capable of reaching the top of the podium while also being mindful of getting players prepared for the next World Cup, and I think we’ve done that.”
The four-time Olympic champions will start their quest for another gold medal against New Zealand in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Aug. 3 and another match in the city vs. France on Aug. 6 before closing out the group stage against Colombia in Manaus on Aug. 9.
The U.S. roster (with NWSL teams in parentheses):
GOALKEEPERS (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC).
DEFENDERS (6): Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City).
MIDFIELDERS (6): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC).
FORWARDS (4): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado).
- Newsday