Two Dash defenders on roster for USWNT

The U.S. Women's National Team announced Friday that Houston Dash defenders Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg will be a part of the roster for the team's upcoming friendlies against Mexico Sept. 13 and 18.

In a press release from USWNT, head coach Jill Ellis called up 28 players for training camp and the two matches. The first meeting will be at Rio Tinto Stadium Sept. 13 at 5:30 p.m. CT and the second will be at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, New York at 6 p.m. CT Sept. 18. The first match will be streamed on ussoccer.com while the second will be broadcasted on ESPN2 and WatchESPN.

Twenty-six-year-old Engen has earned 18 caps for the USWNT. A native of Torrance, Calif., she has made 11 appearances for the Dash as a central defender. She joined the team midway through their inaugural season in 2014.

Klingenberg, a 25-year-old Pittsburg, Penn., native, also joined the Dash halfway through the season after she and Engen completed a UEFA Women's Champion's League campaign with Swedish club Tyreso FF. She has notched 14 caps with the national team.

The Dash defenders will join the national team Sept. 5 in Salt Lake City. According to the press release, this camp will be the first extended training period since Ellis had been named head coach of the team in May. It will also be the final camp and friendlies scheduled before she names her 20-player roster that will attempt to qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup at the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship being held in Kansas City, Kans.; Bridgeview, Ill.; Washington, D.C., and Chester, Penn., from Oct. 15 through Oct. 24.

The complete roster for the USWNT is below:

GOALKEEPERS (4): Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS (10): Stephanie Cox (Seattle Reign FC), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Houston Dash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Heather O'Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)