Franch, Johnston, Klingenberg on US women’s roster

CHICAGO (AP) — Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and defenders Julie Johnston and Meghan Klingenberg have been picked for the U.S. women’s soccer roster for exhibition games next month at Germany and the Netherlands.

The roster announced Thursday includes 20 players who helped the Americans win the Algarve Cup this month.

Franch, who has not played for the national team, was selected as a backup to Nicole Barnhart and Ashlyn Harris following injuries to Hope Solo and Jill Loyden that required surgery.

Johnston made her debut against Scotland on Feb. 9 after captaining the U.S. to the title at last year’s Under-20 World Cup. Klingenberg was an alternate on last year’s team that won the Olympic gold medal. She has two international appearances and had been sidelined by shoulder surgery.

The U.S. plays Germany at Offenbach on April 5, then plays the Dutch four days later at The Hague. Midfielder Carli Lloyd will miss the matches because of a broken shoulder sustained in the Algarve Cup opener.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart (Kansas City), Adrianna Franch (Western New York), Ashlyn Harris (Washington)

Defenders: Rachel Buehler (Portland), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina), Whitney Engen (Liverpool, England), Julie Johnston (Santa Clara), Meghan Klingenberg (Tyreso, Sweden), Ali Krieger (Washington), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue), Becky Sauerbrunn (Kansas City)

Midfielders: Yael Averbuch (Goeteborg, Sweden), Shannon Boxx (Chicago), Lauren Cheney (Kansas City), Tobin Heath (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Kristie Mewis (Kansas City), Heather O’Reilly (Boston), Megan Rapinoe (Lyon, France)

Forwards: Sydney Leroux (Boston), Alex Morgan (Portland), Christen Press (Tyreso, Sweden), Abby Wambach (Western New York)