Lineup Notes: USA Meets Panama in Second Game of Group A in Cary

USA vs. PANAMA
Date: Oct. 7, 2018
Venue: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.
Broadcast: FS1 & UDN
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET

Tonight’s Starting XI vs. Mexico: 18-Ashlyn Harris; 2-Emily Sonnett, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 12-Hailie Mace, 14-Casey Short; 8-Julie Ertz, 6-Morgan Brian, 3-Samantha Mewis; 11-Mallory Pugh, 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.), 20-Christen Press

Substitutes Available: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 9-Lindsey Horan, 13-Alex Morgan, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 16-Rose Lavelle, 17-Tobin Heath, 19-Crystal Dunn

U.S. Team

• U.S. head coach Jill Ellis made nine changes to the starting lineup which faced Mexico on Oct. 4
• All nine players who were available subs for the Mexico match are starting this evening.
• The only repeat starters are midfielder Julie Ertz and defender Abby Dahlkemper, who will once again be playing in her home stadium for the North Carolina Courage.
• The USA is 12-0-2 in 2018, with wins against Denmark, Germany, England, Mexico (thrice), China PR (twice), Japan, Brazil and Chile (twice); and ties against Australia and France.
• The USA is unbeaten in its last 22 matches (19-0-3), and has outscored its opponents 71-17 through that stretch, scoring in all 22 games.
• Tonight will mark the first World Cup Qualifying appearances for Hailie Mace and Casey Short.

Starting Lineup

• Ashlyn Harris will make her third start of 2018 and fourth appearance. It will be her 18th cap and her second World Cup qualifying appearance after playing in one game during the 2014 tournament.
• Emily Sonnett will earn cap. No. 23 tonight, and her eighth start of the year. She played vs. Mexico on Oct. 4, coming in the 67th minute to help seal the U.S. win.
• Abby Dahlkemper will earn her 25th cap tonight. She has played in 11 games this year, starting 10. She went all 90 minutes against Mexico during the USA’s 6-0 win on Oct. 4.
• Hailie Mace will earn her third cap for the WNT tonight and will make her first career start. The UCLA senior made her WNT debut earlier this year on April 8 vs. Mexico.
• Casey Short makes her second start and seventh appearance of the year. This will be her 26th cap. Short starts tonight as a left back, but has also played some outside midfield and centrally for the USA.
• Julie Ertz will earn her 68th cap tonight. She has 17 international goals after recently scoring vs. Mexico on Oct. 4.
• Morgan Brian will make her 11th appearance this year and seventh start. The 25-year-old will earn her 80th cap tonight.
• Samantha Mewis will play in her fifth game this year and is making her second start. She will earn her 39th cap and has scored seven goals international goals.
• Mallory Pugh earns her 39th cap tonight and her eighth start of 2018. She has six goals this year, second-most on the team and tied with Megan Rapinoe. In her short career, Pugh has scored 12 goals with 13 assists.
• Carli Lloyd , who came on in the second half vs. Mexico on Oct. 4 and nearly had several goals, will earn her 261st cap tonight and captain the team. She scored her historic 100th goal on April 8 vs. Mexico to become the sixth player to score 100 or more for the USA. She now has a career total of 102 and is in sole possession of fifth place on the USA's all-time goals list. She is five goals away from tying Michelle Akers for fourth all-time. Lloyd has 50 career assists and is in 8th place all-time, but with six more, can move into fifth. It will be Lloyd’s 16th WCQ appearance. With one more she will tie Kristine Lilly for most WCQ appearances all-time in U.S. history. She leads the USA roster with seven goals scored throughout World Cup qualifying.
• Christen Press earn cap No. 105 and has scored 45 career goals. She is now tied with Julie Foudy for 13th place on the all-time WNT goals list. It will be her fourth start of the year.