U.S. women’s soccer team turns attention back to the field

U.S. women’s soccer players — current and former — have generated a ton of off-field attention in the past week, what with the discrimination complaintand retired star Abby Wambach’s arrest (followed by childish digs by two U.S. men’s players). Tonight, on-field matters regain the foothold.

The Americans will play the first of two friendlies against Colombia, their round-of-16 foe at the World Cup last summer in Canada, at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Conn. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports Go. The teams will meet again Sunday afternoon at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. (2 p.m., FS1, Fox Sports Go).

Ticket sales in Connecticut have surpassed 20,000 (the men struggled to hit 20K for a World Cup qualifier in Columbus last week), while every one of the 18,000 seats has been claimed for the match at the MLS venue in the Philadelphia suburbs. Both are equipped with grass fields, extending the streak of women’s matches on a natural surface this year to 11 of 11 — refreshing choices after last year’s justifiable commotion about the World Cup and most of the victory tour on artificial turf.

The women’s team will return to a grass field in June: The U.S. Soccer Federation announced this week that a June 2 friendly against World Cup runner-up Japan is set for DSG Park in Commerce City, Colo., home to MLS’s Colorado Rapids. The United States and Japan will play again June 5 at a venue to be announced soon.

After training for a week in Florida, the U.S. women arrived to snow in Connecticut. The game-time temperature is going to be 40 degrees with no further precipitation.

Jill Ellis called 23 players into camp; 18 will be in uniform for each of the Colombia matches. For the Olympics this summer, only 18 players are permitted to travel to Brazil.

Two players on the current roster are 17 years old: forwards Mallory Pugh, who started in Olympic qualifiers, and newcomer Ashley Sanchez, the U-17 captain.

The current squad:

Goalkeepers: Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign).

Defenders: Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns).

Midfielders: Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City).

Forwards: Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado), Ashley Sanchez (Southern California Blues).

Notable absences: Megan Rapinoe (knee injury), Christie Rampone (knee), Sydney Leroux (pregnant) and Amy Rodriguez (pregnant).

Following Sunday’s match in Chester, the NWSL players will report to their clubs for the build-up to the regular season openers April 16-17.

The next big date on the calendar is April 14: the Olympic draw. The Americans will be the top seed in Group F or G. (Groups A-D are for the men’s field, and E is headed by the Brazilian women.)

The women’s Olympians are Brazil, Colombia, United States, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, China and New Zealand.