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No Surprises for the USWNT CONCACAF Women’s Championship Roster

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By @DFresh39

Amy Rodriguez USWNT

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Qualifying for the 2015 Women’s World Cup through the CONCACAF Women’s Championship starts next week for the USWNT. Head coach Jill Ellis named 20 players to the roster for the tournament that runs Oct. 15-26 in four U.S. cities. Although Ellis said that this is one of the most competitive rosters to make in recent memory, the final product is as expected and led by Carli Lloyd. A predictable roster does bring plenty of experience, with 14 players having participated in qualifying for the 2012  Olympics and 11 going through World Cup qualifying in the past.

The six players that did not going through the Olympic qualifying are goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, defenders Crystal Dunn, Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg, midfielder Morgan Brian and forward Christen Press. All of these players have had prominent roles with the team in the last couple years. Klingenberg has shined in recent games while Ali Krieger nursed an injury. Press has scored 13 goals in her first 27 games with the senior team. 

The forward grouping is dangerous. They have accounted for 27 of the 48 goals scored by the USWNT this year. Abby Wambach brings her 170 career goals into a team where she is not guaranteed a starting spot. Sydney Leroux leads the USWNT in scoring this calendar year with eight goals. Alex Morgan has scored five goals in five games since returning from injury.

This puts the pressure on the defense. If the USWNT falls short of winning the World Cup, the back line will most likely be the reason. That being said, this is the best group of defenders possible and they are healthy. Kelley O’Hara‘s recent move to an outside back role strengthens the group. However, having Kreiger back gives Ellis the most flexibility. Christie Rampone remains the veteran voice of reason in the back four.

The CONCACAF Women’s Championship features two groups of four countries with the top two in each group moving into the semifinals. The two finalists and the winner of the third place match automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup. With this roster the USWNT should have no problem qualifying for the World Cup. The players and coaches are familiar with one another, so it would take something out of the ordinary for the team to fail at this stage.

GOALKEEPERS (2): Harris, Hope Solo

DEFENDERS (7): Dunn, Engen, Klingenberg, Krieger, O’Hara, Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn

MIDFIELDERS (6): Brian, Tobin Heath, Lauren Holiday, Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe

FORWARDS (5): Leroux, Morgan, Press, Amy Rodriguez, Wambach

Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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