Seven former Tar Heels will be making their way to Rio as part of the United States women’s soccer team for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The 18-payer roster was announced on Tuesday with five players who played their college soccer at UNC included. Two former Tar Heels were named as alternates for the team.
Defenders Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg, midfielders Allie Long and Tobin Heath and forward Crystal Dunn were included in the active roster. Midfielder Heather O’Reilly and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris are alternates on the squad.
O’Reilly was on the teams that won gold medals in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Heath was also a member of those teams in 2008 and 2012. Klingenberg was an alternate in 2012. For the rest of the Tar Heels, it will be their first trip to the Olympics representing their country.
UNC leads all universities in representation on the national team. UNC has placed 30 players to the full roster for the United States over the six times women’s soccer has been played in the Olympics, according to the university. The US has won gold five of those six times, while taking the silver in 2000.
The US will open group play on August 3 against New Zealand, which boasts a Tar Heel of its own in 2016 graduate Katie Bowen.
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