Hope Solo Makes World Cup Roster
May 10, 2011
SEATTLE - Former Husky goalie Hope Solo has asserted herself as one of the best keepers in the box not only in the United States, but in the world. She has started in goal for the USA at every age level of the national team program and was first called into the national team in 2000, when she was in Olympic Residency Training Camp.
After a shoulder injury last year, she was unable to be a part of the lineup, but after months of painful rehabilitation, she is ready and able to join the team again this year. Solo is second all-time in U.S. history in caps, wins and shutouts for a GK. She has lost just one game in goal for the USA in the past six years. Solo is one of 21 players that made the final cut to the FIFA World Cup roster as announced by head coach Pia Sundhage on May 9.
Sundhage had this to say about Solo’s role on this year’s team, “Hope is coming back from injury and we are happy with what we see. Of course I’ve talked about the last World Cup with her, and between then and now we had the Olympics in 2008 and the way she played, saving a ball in the final. Right now I’m very happy with what I see. She and the other two goalkeepers will do some more work and we’ll be prepared for North Korea on June 28.”
The Richland, Wash., native currently plays for the magicJack’s Washington Freedom in the WPS. She was one of the top goalkeepers in Pac-10 history and a four-time All-Pac-10 selection for the Washington Huskies from 1999-2002. She finished her career as Washington’s all-time leader in shutouts (18), saves (325) and GAA (1.02). She was named an NSCAA All-American as a sophomore, junior and senior and as a senior, she was the only goalkeeper up for the Hermann Trophy.
The new roster will begin with a few friendly’s in preparation for the World Cup with the first game on May 14 vs. the Japan Women at 3:30 p.m. PT at the Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. It will air on the Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Deportes.
On May 18, the USA will take on Japan again at 4 p.m. PT at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary N.C., on ESPN2.
The final warm-up for the World Cup will be a big one for Husky fans as the U.S. Women face the Mexico Women at 11 a.m. PT on ESPN2 and Univision at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Former Husky and current volunteer assistant coach Veronica Perez plays for the Mexican National team.
The first World Cup game for the U.S. is June 28 against the Korea DPR Women at 8:45 a.m. PT at the Rudolf-Harbig Stadium in Dresden, Germany.
Game two is July 2 vs. the Columbia Women at 8:30 a.m. PT at the Rhein Neckar Arena in Sinsheim, Germany.
The third game is July 6 vs. the Sweden Women at 11:00 a.m. PT at the World Cup Stadium Wolfsburg in Wolfsburg, Germany.
All three matches for the USA in Group C will air live on ESPN and ESPN3.com.
Perez and team Mexico are in Group B and will face England on June 27, Japan on July 1 and New Zealand on July 5.
Follow the entire tournament here: http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/index.html.
