UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Two Penn State women's soccer alumni have been named to the U.S. Women's National Team roster for the USA's friendly matches in April. Alyssa Naeher (2006-09) and Ali Krieger (2003-06) have been selected as a part of the 24-player training camp roster for the two exhibition matches against Australia April 4 and Belgium April 7.
Alyssa Naeher (2006-09)
Naeher, currently playing for the Chicago Red Stars, was a standout goalkeeper for the Nittany Lions from 2006-09. Naeher was a three-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) , twice earning first team All-American honors. She was named a freshman All-American by Soccer America and Soccer Buzz. Naeher was also the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.
Naeher has been a part of USA women's soccer since 2007, first as a part of the US U-20 National Team. Naeher was the first ever Penn State World Cup Champion leading the U-20 team to five wins and earned the Golden Glove at the U-20 World Cup. Naeher's first experience with the U.S. Women's National Team came in 2009.
Naeher was a member of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup championships and a member of the 2016 USWNT Summer Olympics team in Rio, Brazil. In 2017, Naeher took over as the starting goalkeeper and compiled a record of 10-2-1 in 13 starts for the USA.
Ali Krieger (2003-06)
Ali Krieger returns to the USWNT for the first time since April of 2017.
Krieger made her USWNT team debut in January of 2008 at the Four Nations Tournament in China. Krieger was also a member of the US U-21/U-23 Women's National Team in 2006 and 2007.
Krieger was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, a freshman All-American by Soccer Buzz, an All-Region performer in 2004, and proceeded to earn back to back first team All-American honors in 2005 and 2006. As a senior, Krieger was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Following her Penn State career, she began her professional career playing overseas in Germany. Krieger has played overseas and in the US professionally since 2007. Krieger is currently member of the Orlando Pride.
Krieger burst onto the world stage in 2011, as she played every minute of the World Cup at right back for the US, including successfully converting the fifth and final penalty kick of the quarterfinal shootout against Brazil to advance the US to the next round. Also a member of the 2015 FIFA World Cup championship team, Krieger started all seven games of the tournament. The US earned five consecutive shutouts during the tournament with Krieger as an anchor of the back line.
Krieger and Naeher were teammates at Penn State in 2006 and again on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup championship team.
Coach Erica Dambach on two alumni being named to the National Team roster: "We are incredibly proud of Alyssa and Ali's accomplishments and want to wish them the best of luck in the next camp as they prepare for the 2019 Women's World Cup. They are true professionals in every sense of the word and are wonderful representatives and ambassadors for our Penn State program."