Rampone returns to US women's team following knee surgery
CHICAGO (AP) - Defender Christie Rampone is returning to the U.S. women's team for the first time since September.
The American captain had arthroscopic surgery on her right knee on Sept. 4, a day after playing until the 51st minute of a 7-0 exhibition win over Mexico. Rampone, 40, has appeared in all five of Sky Blue's games this season in the National Women's Soccer League.
Rampone is among 25 players who will report to Denver on May 27 ahead of a June 2 exhibition against Japan at Commerce City, Colorado, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Wednesday. The Americans also play Japan on June 5 at Cleveland.
The Americans are preparing to defend their Olympic gold medal and will have to select an 18-player roster for the August tournament in Brazil. Seventh-ranked Japan, which lost to the U.S. in the finals of the 2012 Olympics and the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, failed to qualify for this year's 12-nation Olympic field.
Defender Gina Lewandowski will be with the U.S. team for the first time since making her debut in October.
The U.S. is missing midfielder Carli Lloyd, the FIFA Player of the Year, who sprained her right knee on April 23. The top-ranked Americans also are without midfielder Megan Rapinoe, who tore her right anterior cruciate ligament, and midfielder Sydney Leroux and forward Amy Rodriguez, who are pregnant.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch (Portland), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago), Hope Solo (Seattle)
Defenders: Whitney Engen (Boston), Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York), Julie Johnston (Chicago), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland), Ali Krieger (Washington), Gina Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Germany), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue), Becky Sauerbrunn (Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Portland)
Midfielders: Morgan Brian (Houston), Tobin Heath (Portland), Lindsey Horan (Portland), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Allie Long (Portland), Samantha Mewis (Western New York), Heather O'Reilly (Kansas City)
Forwards: Crystal Dunn (Washington), Alex Morgan (Orlando), Christen Press (Chicago), Mallory Pugh (Colorado)