MF Desiree Scott, FW Diana Matheson, FW Elise Thorsnes, DF Rachel Corsie, MF Gunny Jonsdottir and MF Katie Bowen Each Called Up to Represent Their Respective National Teams for FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers and International Friendlies

SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, May 29, 2018) – Utah Royals FC MF Desiree Scott, FW Diana Matheson, FW Elise Thorsnes, DF Rachel Corsie, MF Gunny Jonsdottir, and MF Katie Bowen will be leaving Salt Lake City in the first week of June to represent their national teams during the NWSL FIFA break, announced head coach Laura Harvey. The international URFC standouts will be traveling to participate in friendlies and complete FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers across Europe.

Matheson and Scott have been selected to the final roster for the Canadian Women’s National Team’s upcoming international friendly against Germany on June 10 at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton, Canada. The Canadian roster also includes a handful of NWSL stars - Lindsey Agnew (Houston Dash), Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash), Shelina Zadorksy (Orlando Pride), Rebecca Quinn (Washington Spirit), Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns FC), Janine Beckie (Sky Blue FC), Adriana Leon (Sky Blue FC) and Nichelle Prince (Houston Dash).

A key player for the Canadian Women’s side, Matheson totals nearly 200 caps for the senior team, scoring 16 goals in international tournaments against some of the world’s top teams. Best known for scoring the bronze medal-winning goal for Canada in the 92nd minute against France at the 2012 Olympics, Matheson has also scored 24 goals in the NWSL since 2013 (one which was voted the “Goal of the Week” for URFC against the Washington Spirit). Matheson won gold in the 2011 Pan American Games and a bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

An owner of bronze medals from the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, Scott moved to Utah from FC Kansas City, for which she started and featured in 14 games in 2017 after missing the first half of the NWSL season due to an ankle injury. The Winnipeg native – known as “The Destroyer” – made her Canadian debut in the 2010 Cyprus Cup and has since been a mainstay, registering 134 caps while participating in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and winning a gold medal in the 2011 Pan American Games.

Thorsnes was also called-up to represent Norway, leaving this week to play back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Ireland in Dublin (June 8), and Stavanger (June 12). Thorsnes began playing for the Norwegian side in 2006, and has since appeared in 110 games. A proven target striker for Norway with 19 career goals at the international level, Thorsnes played in every single game at the 2014 Beijing Olympics, also scoring a goal to get past Sweden in the 2009 European Championship quarterfinals. In the 2011 Women’s World Cup, she scored Norway’s final goal in the tournament in a 2-1 loss to Australia.

Corsie is also playing in Women’s World Cup qualifiers, captaining Scotland against Belarus on June 7 and Poland on June 12. Corsie made her senior debut at the 2009 Cyprus Cup against France and was selected in all of Scotland's games at the tournament. Now just two appearances away from 100 senior caps, the majority of Corsie’s 16 goals have come from her getting forward from the center back position. She scored three goals during Scotland’s UEFA qualification for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and captained the team to an historic 2-0 win over England at the 2011 Cyprus Cup -- the first of its kind for Scotland in more than 30 years.

Jónsdóttir will also be participating in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers this June, called up to represent Iceland in their upcoming match against Slovenia on June 11. As one of the top goalscorers in Iceland WNT history – and 55 caps under her belt -- Jónsdóttir helped Iceland qualify for the 2013 Women's UEFA Cup quarter finals, and bagged crucial goals against Slovenia and Scotland in the 2016 UEFA Women's Championships. Since moving to Salt Lake City in February, Gunny has become a dependable starter for the URFC squad, even scoring the club’s first historic goal in the 3rd minute of the inaugural game against the Pride at Orlando City Stadium.

Finally, Bowen was called up to represent the “Football Ferns” of New Zealand for their international tour against FIFA Women’s World Cup runner-up Japan on June 10 at Westpac Stadium. Aside from Bowen, the NZWNT roster includes two other NWSL players – Rosie White (Chicago Red Stars), and Rebekah Stott (Sky Blue FC). Bowen, best known for being the youngest female player to ever wear the New Zealand crest, made her international debut in 2008 at the 2007 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup at just 14 years old. The Auckland native made her first appearance with the senior team in 2011 against Australia, going on to represent her country in the 2011 and 2014 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. She has since appeared in 37 matches for the New Zealand side, scoring one goal.

Catch the Action

Canada vs. Germany (international friendly): Sunday, June 10th, 12:00 p.m. MT, at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton, Canada. Follow the action on twitter at @CanadaSoccerEN. The game is set to be broadcasted on TSN2 and TSN GO.

Norway vs. Ireland (FIFA WWC qualifier): Friday, June 8th, 10:30 p.m. MT, at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Follow the action on twitter at @nff_info. There will also be a live stream at https://www.sofascore.com/norway-ireland/xYcsDPi

Norway vs. Ireland (FIFA WWC qualifier): Tuesday, June 12th, 10:00 a.m. MT, at Viking Stadium in Stavanger, Norway. The game can be streamed athttps://www.sofascore.com/norway-ireland/xYcsDPi or keep up on live updates at @nff_info on twitter.

Scotland vs. Belarus (FIFA WWC qualifier): Thursday, June 7, 12:45 p.m. MT, at Falkirk Community Stadium in Falkirk, UK. Follow the action on twitter at @ScottishFA, or stream the match on https://www.sofascore.com/belarus-scotland/xXosMEq

Scotland vs. Poland (FIFA WWC qualifier): Tuesday, June 12, 7:30 a.m. MT, at Kielce City Stadium in Kielce, Poland. Streaming options TBA – follow at @ScottishFA.

Iceland vs. Slovenia (FIFA WWC qualifier): Monday, June 11, 12:00 p.m. MT, at Laugardalsvöllur in Reykjavík, Iceland. There will be a live stream athttps://www.sofascore.com/slovenia-iceland/zPisyXo and will be live updates on twitter at @footballiceland

New Zealand vs. Japan (International friendly): Sunday, June 10, 9:00 a.m. MT. at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Streaming options TBA – follow on twitter at @NZ_football.

Utah Royals FC

Born less than a year ago and already supported by nearly 6,000 season ticket holders, Utah Royals FC tickets are available by calling 844.Real.Tix or visiting www.UtahRoyalsFC.com.