UVA Soccer: Four former Hoos called to USWNT Training Camp in Europe

Four former members of the UVA soccer program have been tabbed for the 26-player roster for the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) training camp beginning this weekend in Europe.

Defenders Becky Sauerbrunn (2003-07) and Emily Sonnett (2012-15) join midfielders Morgan Brian (2011-14) and Danielle Colaprico (2011-14) in competing for a spot on the roster when the USWNT plays its first two matches of the year against France (Jan. 19 – 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1) and Spain (Jan. 22 – 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2).

It is the first time the USWNT has held training camp in Europe.

In the first camp of 2019, the team will spend a week in Portugal training before heading to France to take on the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosts. The match will be played at Stade Oceane in Le Havre, which is one of the nine World Cup venues and will also serve as the site of one of the USWNT games in the World Cup this summer. The USWNT will then head to Spain for the first time, playing at Estadio Jose Rico Perez in Alicante.

“It’s a real positive to start the year with this training period in Portugal and then play two top teams in France and Spain away,” said USWNT head coach Jill Ellis. “Finding ways to be successful against European teams in Europe is something every team in the World Cup will have to do to advance deep in the tournament, so this is an essential trip in our prep for the summer.”

Brian and Sauerbrunn were both part of the USWNT roster for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada claimed by the United States. Sonnett joined the duo on the roster for the CONCACAF Women’s Championship this past October, helping the USWNT secure its berth in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Sauerbrunn, who currently competes with the Utah Royals FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has 149 caps for her career with the USWNT. Brian has 81 caps, while Sonnett has 26 caps. Colaprico, who has two caps, made her first appearances this past November in friendlies against Portugal and Scotland in Europe. Brian and Colaprico are teammates with the NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars, while Sonnett is a member of the Portland Thorns. Currently, Colaprico has been playing with Sydney FC in Australia during the NWSL off-season.