Megan Rapinoe earned All-America honors as a redshirt freshman in 2005 after tallying 15 goals and 13 assists

CARSON, Calif. (ussoccer.com) – University of Portland soccer star Megan Rapinoe was named to the 18-player U.S. Women’s National Team roster that will face Sweden on July 15 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., head coach Greg Ryan announced on Tuesday. Rapinoe, who will be entering her sophomore season at Portland this fall, is the youngest player on the roster 21.

The clash between the USA, which is second in the current FIFA world rankings, and Sweden, ranked fifth, will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. (Pacific).

Rapinoe, the only uncapped player on the roster, has extensive experience playing with the U.S. Youth National team system, most notably as a member of the U.S. team that finished third at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in Thailand. The Redding, Calif. native had an excellent tournament in Thailand, scoring three goals, including one in the third-place match victory against Brazil. She joined the U.S. Residency Training Camp in the middle of May, but has made enough of an impression on the coaching staff to make her first WNT roster.

The two teams have not met since the 2004 Algarve Cup in Portugal when Sweden defeated the USA, 3-1, in the final match of group play. Sweden will come into the match well prepared as they are in the middle of their domestic club season and at the tail end of their Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign. Sweden needs just one win from its last two matches in Group 2 of European qualifying to secure their spot at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The USA has had success against Sweden over the years, piling up a 12-3-5 record against the 2003 Women’s World Cup runner-up, but the last nine matches have been highly competitive, with the USA holding an edge at three wins, two losses and four ties.

Ryan named two goalkeepers, six defenders, five midfielders and five forwards to the roster. Nine players were members of the gold medal-winning 2004 Olympic team. Leading the way for the USA are veterans Kristine Lilly, Abby Wambach, Christie Rampone, Heather Mitts, Aly Wagner and Cat Whitehill, but the USA will be without defensive midfielder Shannon Boxx, who has not yet recovered from hip surgery. Twenty-three-year-old Leslie Osborne and 30-year-old Marci Miller may see time in place of Boxx, who has started 58 of the 59 games she has played for the USA. In addition to Wagner, the USA’s other attacking midfielders are Lindsay Tarpley and Carli Lloyd, who has just nine caps and is looking for her first career goal.

Sweden will be without two of its top players as forward Hanna Ljungberg has a hamstring injury and midfielder and captain Malin Mostrom has a previous commitment. Still, Sweden brings some veteran stars including defenders Jane Tornqvist, Hanna Marklund and Karolina Westberg, all of whom have played more than 100 matches for their country. Sweden has one of the top goalkeepers in the world in Caroline Jonsson and at least two world-class attacking personalities in Victoria Svensson, who won the Silver Ball as the second most outstanding player at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Lotta Schelin, a rising star who has scored five times in Women’s World Cup qualifying.

The USA will arrive in Minnesota on Wednesday, July 12, and train at the NSC on Thursday and Friday before facing Sweden on Saturday. The USA has not lost in Blaine since 1987.

U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER

U.S. vs. Sweden ∙ National Sports Center – Blaine, Minn. ∙ July 15, 2006