Lori Chalupny, St. Louis, Missouri, was named to the US Olympic roster Monday by Coach Pia Sundhage. Chalupny played her prep soccer for JB Marine before moving on to North Carolina.
Nine players on the roster were members of the U.S. team that won the gold medal four years ago in Athens, Greece, including team co-captains Christie Rampone and Kate Markgraf, who will both be participating in their third Olympic Games.
The USA will open play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Aug. 6 against Norway in Qinhuangdao, China. The USA will then face Japan on Aug. 9, also in Qinhuangdao, before finishing Group G play against New Zealand on Aug. 12 in Shenyang.
All 22 players – the Olympic Team plus the four alternates – will leave for Europe on June 27 for two matches, the first against Norway on July 2 in Fredrikstad and a second against Sweden on July 5 in Skelleftea. The USA’s two Olympic send-off matches against Brazil, on July 13 in Commerce City, Colo. (2 p.m. MT on ESPN presented by Dodge) and on July 16 in San Diego, Calif. (7 p.m. PT on Fox Soccer Channel), will feature only the 18 players named to the Olympic Team.
UPDATE – St Louis Post-Dispatch interviews the Nerinx Hall Marker alum:
Going to China has become old hat for Lori Chalupny. The Nerinx Hall graduate has made four trips there with the U.S. women’s national soccer team since the start of 2006 alone.
She’ll make another trip to China in August, and it will be different from the others. This time it will be to play in the Summer Olympics.
