PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC today announced that midfielder Allie Long and defender Nikki Marshall have been called up by the U.S. Women’s National Team for an upcoming international friendly against the Canada Women’s National Team on May 8.
Under interim head coach Jill Ellis, the U.S. Women’s National Team travels to face Canada on Thursday, May 8, at 5 p.m. (Pacific) at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, Canada. The match will be broadcast live online on ESPN3 and espnW.com.
Long, 26, earns her first call into the U.S. Women’s National Team since July 2010, when she was named to the training camp roster for two matches against Sweden under former head coach Pia Sundhage. Representing the United States at the U-20 and U-23 levels during her career, Long has yet to earn her first international appearance with the senior national team.
A standout midfielder for Thorns FC, Long has started 25 consecutive matches for Portland, dating back to the inaugural 2013 National Women’s Soccer League season. A versatile player, Long has registered a goal in three straight matches to start the 2014 season, including a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over FC Kansas City on April 26.
Marshall, 25, earns her first call up to the U.S. Women’s National Team after representing the United States at the U-20 and U-23 levels. Marshall, who has started 25 consecutive matches for Thorns FC since 2013, earned Woman of the Match honors as she helped the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team win the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 victory over North Korea in Chile.
Appearing in every Thorns FC match across all competitions, Marshall has played 90 minutes in each of the first three games this season while helping direct a defensive line that includes two rookies. The Colorado native registered one assist in 2013 while helping Thorns FC win the inaugural NWSL Championship.
Both players are scheduled to depart for Winnipeg on Sunday, May 4, following Portland’s regular-season match at the Western New York Flash (May 3) and will return to the Rose City on Friday, May 9, ahead of Portland’s home match against Seattle Reign FC (May 10).
