NWSL Houston Dash

Houston Dash Forward Kealia Ohai Receives First Call-Up to USWNT

Published on October 6, 2016 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Houston Dash News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dash forward Kealia Ohai and midfielders Morgan Brian and Carli Lloyd were selected by U.S. Women's National Team head coach Jill Ellis for the 24-player roster for two friendly matches against Switzerland on Oct. 19 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah and Oct. 23 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The roster was announced by U.S. Soccer earlier today.

This is the first senior national team roster selection for Ohai who finished with 11 goals and four assists this season. The University of North Carolina product scored the game-winning goal for the U.S. squad that defeated Germany 1-0 in the final of the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup. The Draper, Utah native can earn her first senior national team cap in her home state if she sees time on the field on Oct. 19. Ohai is the first non-allocated Dash player to be selected for a USWNT roster.

Brian has earned 59 caps with the USWNT and won the Golden Ball as the most outstanding player at the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship last February. The 23-year-old midfielder started in 13 games for the club this season.

Lloyd scored two goals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the reigning FIFA Women's World Player of the Year has played 230 times for the USWNT. The Delran, New Jersey native leads the active team in scoring with 94 career goals. The USWNT co-captain is six goals away from becoming the sixth player in U.S. history to score 100 goals. Lloyd scored five goals and tallied three assists over seven games with the Dash this season.

Houston Dash Transcripts

MF Carli Lloyd

(on F Kealia Ohai receiving her first national team selection) "Kealia has been fantastic this season and deserving of this call up. I have watched her grow tremendously over the past two seasons in Houston and she has really taken her game to another level. I know she has worked hard to get a call up and I am really excited for her!"

MF Morgan Brian (on F Kealia Ohai receiving her first national team selection) "I am so happy for Kealia! She is a perfect example of hard work paying off. I have played with her for multiple years on the youth national teams and the Dash, so to see a friend and teammate be rewarded makes me so happy. She is a true competitor and I am very proud of her."

About the Houston Dash The Houston Dash are a National Women's Soccer League club that began play in April 2014 for the start of the league's second season. The Dash were the first expansion club in the NWSL, joining the eight original members that launched the league in 2013. The NWSL is supported by the Canadian Soccer Association, Federation of Mexican Football and the United States Soccer Federation. It is the top-flight women's professional soccer league in North America, featuring many of the top players from the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as talent from around the world. The 20-game regular season runs from April through September. The team trains at Houston Sports Park (HSP), the premier training facility in Southeast Texas, and plays at BBVA Compass Stadium in downtown Houston. For more information, visit www.HoustonDashSoccer.com or call (713) 276-GOAL.

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from October 6, 2016


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