Imani Dorsey was among three Sky Blue players called into the U.S. U-23 national side. (Photo courtesy of Sky Blue FC)
HOWELL, N.J. – Sky Blue FC forward Imani Dorsey, midfielder Julie James Doyle and forward Paige Monaghan will join the U.S. Under-23 women’s national team and travel to England for the Nordic Tournament Aug. 28-Sept. 2.
The timing of the tournament means that U.S. head coach B.J. Snow has named 21 professionals to the 23-player roster – 16 from the National Women’s Soccer League title and five playing in Europe – in addition to two of the top college players in the country. Those two are defender Emily Fox from North Carolina and forward Sophia Smith from Stanford. The 19-year-old Smith, was the 2017 U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year, is the youngest player on the roster.
The USA will face Norway on Aug. 28, England on Aug. 30 and finish with Sweden on Sept. 2. All the matches will be played at Loughborough University in Loughborough, England, which is in the center of the country about 45 miles northeast of Birmingham.
The tournament is allowing three overage players per team and Snow named two in forward Kristen Hamilton from the North Carolina Courage, who is currently tied for second in the NWSL in goals with eight, and Erin Simon, who is playing left back for West Ham United.
The U-23 roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Emily Boyd (Chicago Red Stars; Seattle, Wash.), Casey Murphy (Reign FC; Bridgewater Township, N.J.)
DEFENDERS (8): Alana Cook (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA; Worcester, Mass.), Schuyler Debree (Reign FC; Fair Haven, N.J.), Brooke Denesik (Biike Kazygurt/KAZ; Anthem, Ariz.), Emily Fox (UNC; Ashburn, Va.), Madison Pogarch (Portland Thorns FC; Hartland, Mich.), Erin Simon (West Ham United/ENG; Oakhurst, N.J.), Samantha Staab (Washington, Spirit; San Diego, Calif.), Gabby Vincent (Utah Royals; Colombia, Md.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Carlyn Baldwin (Sporting CP/POR; Oakton, Va.), Jordan DiBiasi (Washington Spirit; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Julie James Doyle (Sky Blue FC/Fairview, Texas), Haley Hanson (Houston Dash; Overland Park, Kans.), Cece Kizer (Houston Dash; Overland Park, Kans.), Savannah McCaskill (Chicago Red Stars; Chapin, S.C.), Marisa Viggiano (Orlando Pride; Troy, Mich.)
FORWARDS (6): Bethany Balcer (Reign FC; Hudsonville, Mich.), Imani Dorsey (Sky Blue FC; Elkridge, Md.), Kristen Hamilton (NC Courage; Littleton, Colo.), Hailie Mace (Rosengård FC/SWE; Ventura, Calif.), Paige Monaghan (Sky Blue FC; Roxbury Township, N.J.), Sophia Smith (Stanford; Windsor, Colo.)
