Dozens of young girls called out to Carli Lloyd as she walked onto the U.S. Bank Stadium turf for Saturday's soccer training session with the U.S. women's national team.
Recognizing Lloyd, named the 2015 FIFA Player of the Year, wasn't hard. Much of the roster, however, is less well-known.
A record women's soccer crowd in Minnesota — the national team announced that more than 21,000 tickets have been sold for Sunday's exhibition rematch with Switzerland — won't see the likes of Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger or Julie Johnston.
Instead, they'll see coach Jill Ellis' expanded national team player pool. Ellis called up 11 uncapped players, eight from the National Women's Soccer League and three from the college ranks. Five of those players, Andi Sullivan, Casey Short, Lynn Williams, Abby Dahlkemper and Ashley Hatch, earned their first caps (international match appearances) Oct. 19 against Switzerland.
Veterans and newcomers alike see positives thus far as Ellis considers her roster for defense of the World Cup title in 2019.
"It's been fantastic," Lloyd said. "It's nice to get some new faces in, some hungry players who are honored to be here and want to make the team."
The new-look national team beat Switzerland 4-0 Wednesday in Utah, and Williams scored first. She called the goal "a dream" and said the thrill followed her to Minnesota.
"I just tried to go out there and make an impact," said Williams, the 2016 NWSL most valuable player. "I didn't think it was going to be that quickly, but I'm very excited that it was."
Enthusiasm for what's happening on the field is welcomed by a U.S. team beset by on- and off-field concerns the past few months. In August, Sweden upset the U.S. in the quarterfinals of the Summer Olympics, a loss that triggered goalkeeper Hope Solo's "cowards" rant at the victorious Swedes. She received a six-month national team suspension.
Midfielder Megan Rapinoe made headlines by kneeling for the national anthem before the national team's match Sept. 15 against Thailand. She was among the veterans left off the current roster.
While Lloyd said she is "fully supportive" of Ellis' plans and Williams credits the veterans for a welcoming environment, both old and new guard are raising the other's level of play. Because performance is paramount.
"The air is thin here, it always it," said goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, a World Cup veteran. "You can't be complacent. No one ever shows up expecting anything, I can promise you that."
Hatch, a senior forward at Brigham Young, said the experience has been all about playing close attention in meetings, watching the veterans and asking a lot of questions.
"They've all been very welcoming, but they've also been showing us how it's done," Hatch said. "They work hard every practice, and we've been trying to follow their lead."
Lloyd said Hatch and the other four players who earned caps against Switzerland "did very well. I think it's promising that those players will get called back in."
