Sydney FC Westfield W-League Champion Elizabeth Ralston is in line for her first cap after being selected as one of five Sky Blues in the 23-player Westfield Matildas squad for Australia’s forthcoming international friendly against the United States of America in Commerce City, Colorado.
Ralston joins fellow Champions Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Logarzo and Lisa De Vanna in Head Coach Ante Milicic’s squad, with an opportunity to impress in the lead up to this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Ralston said she was thrilled with her first call up to the national side.
“I’m thrilled to be selected for the squad to tour the United States,” she said.
“I felt really good this season, I’m happy with how I played and I now want to show that on the international stage. A call up to the World Cup squad would be a dream come true.”
“It has been my intention from the outset to give as many players as possible a chance to impress ahead of our final squad selection for France,” Milicic said.
“Katrina, Chloe, Mary, Elizabeth, and Teagan will join us in the United States, and while some players have missed out on this window that doesn’t mean that their hopes of being with us at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup are over.
“We will be looking for players to step up in the United States both in training and our match against the world’s number one ranked side, and as a unit we will be aiming to build upon the foundations and standards we set during the recent Cup of Nations,” he said.
Australia and the USA – who will both feature at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France – have played 28 international matches since their first meeting in 1987, and last met at last year’s Tournament of Nations at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in Connecticut. In the last match between the nations a clinical first half strike from Chloe Logarzo was cancelled out by Lindsey Horan’s late second half header as the game ended all square.
Milicic will name Australia’s squad for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in mid-May before the team commences its final preparations for France in Antalya, Turkey, from May 19.
Australia’s fixture against the United States from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park will be broadcast LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS 503.
Westfield Matildas Squad | April 2019 | Colorado, United States of America
Name |
Club, Country |
A-International Caps (Goals) |
Teigen ALLEN |
Melbourne Victory FC, Australia |
40 (0) |
Laura ALLEWAY |
Melbourne Victory FC, Australia |
60 (2) |
Mackenzie ARNOLD (Gk) |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
23 (0) |
Tameka BUTT |
Klepp IL, Norway |
77 (10) |
Ellie CARPENTER |
Portland Thorns, USA |
30 (1) |
Steph CATLEY |
Seattle Reign, USA |
71 (2) |
Lisa DE VANNA |
Sydney FC, Australia |
146 (46) |
Caitlin FOORD |
Portland Thorns, USA |
70 (15) |
Mary FOWLER |
Bankstown City Lions FC, Australia |
3 (0) |
Emily GIELNIK |
Melbourne Victory FC, Australia |
27 (7) |
Katrina GORRY |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
72 (14) |
Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT |
Seattle Reign, USA |
105 (1) |
Alanna KENNEDY |
Orlando Pride, USA |
76 (7) |
Samantha KERR |
Chicago Red Stars, USA |
75 (30) |
Chloe LOGARZO |
Washington Spirit, USA |
37 (6) |
Aivi LUIK |
Levante UD, Spain |
21 (0) |
Teagan MICAH (Gk) |
UCLA, USA |
0 (0) |
Clare POLKINGHORNE |
Houston Dash, USA |
115 (9) |
Elizabeth RALSTON |
Sydney FC, Australia |
0 (0) |
Hayley RASO |
Portland Thorns, USA |
33 (3) |
Gema SIMON |
Newcastle Jets FC, Australia |
10 (0) |
Emily VAN EGMOND |
Orlando Pride, USA |
84 (18) |
Lydia WILLIAMS (Gk) |
Seattle Reign, USA |
76 (0) |
Upcoming Matches | Westfield Matildas
United States of America vs. Westfield Matildas (International Friendly)
Date: Thursday, 4 April 2019
Venue: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local); 12.30pm – Friday, 5 April 2019 (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on FOX SPORTS 503