Add Mallory Pugh’s name to the history books — again.
Five months after becoming the youngest female player to compete in an Olympic qualifying match for U.S. soccer, the striker from Highlands Ranch was selected on Tuesday to the final U.S. Olympic roster, bound for Brazil.
blessed and honored to be apart of Team USA and represent my country! we're coming Rio!!🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MAH5IsHgih
— mallory pugh (@MalPugh) July 12, 2016
At 18 years, 3 months and 5 days when the Games open, Pugh, a recent Mountain Vista High graduate, will be the second-youngest U.S. women’s soccer player in history to compete in the Olympics. Cindy Parlow was only a month younger (18 years, 2 months, 13 days) when she struck gold with the U.S. in 1996.
“I’m super excited and nervous at the same time,” Pugh said, via U.S. Soccer’s website. “When (coach Jill Ellis) called, a bunch of emotions were going through my mind. I was a bit in shock because I know I’ve worked hard and it’s because of my teammates on the National Team, on the U-20s and back at home that have pushed me. I appreciate that from them. I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today without them. I thought, ‘Did that really just happen? Am I going to go to the Olympics?’ I will not only be with amazing athletes on my team, but also on Team USA. It will be so cool to see so many different athletes, find out their journeys and be inspired by them.”
The 2015 Gatorade national player of the year and captain of the U-20 U.S. women’s national team, Pugh was called up to the senior National Team in January and earned her first cap and goal against Ireland weeks later. She currently leads the U.S. with seven assists through 13 games, the latest of which came this past Saturday to set up the U.S. team’s lone goal in a 1-0 victory against South Africa in Chicago. Should she score in Brazil, Pugh will become the youngest player in history to net a goal for the U.S.
“I think Mal has had a fairly seamless — at least, it appears that way — transition into this environment,” Ellis said via U.S. Soccer. “She’s fit in well socially, the soccer piece has been very, very good, and what I like about her is that she’s come in, held her own and she doesn’t get phased or rattled. She’s a quality player and she’s a big part of this future, this program going forward. It’s not just bringing her in to get experience, it’s bringing in a player that can help us down there and impact the game.”
Joining Pugh as an Olympic first-timer is Golden native Lindsey Horan, 22, who skipped college to play professionally in France. The Golden High School alum joined Paris Saint-Germain after coming up with the Colorado Rush development program. She currently plays for Portland Thorns FC of the NWSL.
“It’s such an unreal feeling. It hasn’t settled in,” Horan said. “I’m grateful and thankful to get this opportunity to represent my country at the Olympics. It’s a special feeling knowing you represent your country and have all of these amazing athletes around you, and we are all at the end of the day in one big team.”
Ellis also named four alternates — three-time gold medalist midfielder Heather O’Reilly, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, defender Emily Sonnett and midfielder Samantha Mewis — who will travel to Brazil with the team. But first, all 22 will travel to Kansas City for a final tuneup match, against Costa Rica on July 22.
Two days before the Olympic Opening Ceremony, the U.S. will open Group G play, against New Zealand on Aug. 3 (4 p.m. MT) at Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte, about 270 miles north of Rio. Three days later, the U.S. will take on France at Mineirão Stadium (2 p.m.) before finishing group play against Colombia on Aug. 9 (4 p.m.) at the Amazônia Stadium in Manaus, where the U.S. Men’s National Team tied Portugal, 2-2, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (6): Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (4): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado)
