Oct. 19, 2009
U.S. Women's National Team Website
CHICAGO - Illinois soccer alum Ella Masar was called up to the U.S. Women's National Team last Friday, and will be on the 18-player roster when the U.S. faces Germany in Augsburg, Germany on Oct. 29. Head coach Pia Sundhage chose Masar to replace the recently retired Angela Hucles on the U.S. roster. Masar is one of three forwards on the roster, joining Abby Wambach and Amy Rodriguez.
The U.S. team will depart for Germany tomorrow and train for eight days prior to its game. The match on Oct. 29 is a friendly and will kick off at 12 p.m. CT at Impuls Arena, one of the nine venues that will host the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. The U.S. is currently first in the FIFA Women's World Rankings, while Germany is second.
Masar has a chance to earn her first national team cap after participating in training camp earlier this year. She bodes international experience from playing for the U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team that won the 2008 Nordic Cup and as a member of the U-21 National Team in 2007.
Masar starred form the Illini from 2004-07, earning All-America honors in her junior and senior seasons. She was the 2006 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and earned first team All-Big Ten honors twice. The Urbana native ranks second in school history in career assists (20), third in points (74) and fifth in goals (27). She has continued her soccer career with the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer.
