PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC defenders Clare Polkinghorne (Australia) and Steph Catley (Australia), midfielder Lianne Sanderson (England) and forward Jodie Taylor (England) have been selected by their respective national teams for the China Football Association (CFA) International Women’s Football Tournament beginning Oct. 23.
The three teams will compete in the round-robin tournament from Oct. 23-28. Australia and England will square off Friday, Oct. 23 in Chongqing.
The 2015 season marked Catley’s second with Thorns FC. The Australian international appeared in three games (2 starts) as she battled an injury after returning from the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Catley, who has earned 39 caps for Australia, appeared in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 and played in every match, helping lead the Matildas to the quarterfinals.
In her first season with Thorns FC, Polkinghorne appeared in nine matches (all starts) after signing with the club following the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Matildas co-captain has earned 79 caps since her debut in 2006.
Arriving in July as part of a trade, Sanderson appeared in five matches (2 starts) during the 2015 season for Thorns FC, tallying one assist in her first season with Portland. The England international has earned 49 international caps and helped guide the Three Lionesses to a bronze medal at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In her first season for Thorns FC, Taylor appeared in seven matches (5 starts), registering three goals. Taylor scored in three of Portland’s last five matches in 2015, including goals in consecutive matches to close out the season. Playing for the Three Lionesses, Taylor has tallied five goals, earning 12 caps, while helping lead England to a bronze medal at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
