Chicago, IL – (Tuesday, May 10, 2011) – Former Richmond Kickers Destiny (W-League) player, Becky Sauerbrunn, has been named to the roster of 21 players who will represent the United States in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The USA, which has been drawn into Group C with Korea DPR, Colombia and Sweden, opens its tournament on June 28 in Dresden, Germany.
Currently playing for the WPS side magicJack, in Boca Raton, FL, Sauerbrunn is one of 12 players who will be attending her first Women’s World Cup, joining goalkeeper Jill Loyden, defenders Rachel Buehler, Ali Krieger, Amy LePeilbet and Heather Mitts, midfielders Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey and Megan Rapinoe, and forwards Lauren Cheney, Alex Morgan and Amy Rodriguez. Six players are set for their second Women’s World Cup, including goalkeepers Nicole Barnhart and Hope Solo, defender Stephanie Cox and midfielders Carli Lloyd, Lindsay Tarpley and Heather O’Reilly. It is the first U.S. Women’s World Cup roster compiled entirely of professional players.
Sauerbrunn earned two caps in 2008, but did not return to the U.S. team until last fall when she made the roster for CONCACAF qualifying and worked her way into the mix with consistent play and versatility on the back line, appearing in one game last year and six so far this year.
The St. Louis, MO native made 24 appearances over two seasons with the Richmond Kickers Destiny, logging 2,137 minutes in a Kickers uniform. A defensive stalwart, she also posed an offensive threat, notching three goals and one assist en route to Richmond’s back-to-back playoff berths. The 2007 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and three-time NSCAA All-American, Sauerbrunn anchored a University of Virginia defense that led the nation in goals against average (0.40) and set a school record with 15 shutouts. She was also named the 2007 NSCAA/adidas Women’s Scholar Athlete of the Year, maintaining a 3.43 GPA with a major in English Language and Literature.
The 2011 U.S. Women’s World Cup Team finished a three-week training camp in Florida last Friday and will arrive in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday to begin training for a two-game series against fellow Women’s World Cup qualifier Japan taking place on May 14 at Columbus Crew Stadium (6:30 p.m. ET on FOX Soccer and FOX Deportes) and May 18 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. (7 p.m. ET on ESPN2).
The USA will play its Women’s World Cup Send-Off Match on June 5 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. (2 p.m. ET on ESPN2) before the players go on a break. The U.S. team will leave for Austria in mid-June for a pre-Women’s World Cup training camp.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (Philadelphia Independence)**, Jill Loyden (magicJack)*, Hope Solo (magicJack)**
DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers)*, Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers)**, Ali Krieger (out of contract)*, Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers)*, Heather Mitts (Atlanta Beat)*, Christie Rampone (magicJack)****, Becky Sauerbrunn (magicJack)*
MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (magicJack)***, Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC)*, Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence)*, Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat)**, Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC)**, Megan Rapinoe (Philadelphia Independence)*, Lindsay Tarpley (magicJack)**
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers)*, Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash)*, Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence)*, Abby Wambach (magicJack)***
* First Women’s World Cup
** Second Women’s World Cup
*** Third Women’s World Cup
**** Fourth Women’s World Cup
