SALT LAKE CITY – The U.S. Women’s National Team is on its way to Utah for a second consecutive friendly against Columbia this upcoming Tuesday, June 28.

One member of the traveling party is more excited than the rest to step foot onto Rio Tinto Stadium in front of fans she has played in front of before. Ashley Hatch, 27, hopes to appear in her 10th game for the national team just down the road from where her collegiate years were spent.

“I love Utah, as soon as we landed it just felt like home so I am really excited to be here,” Hatch told the media on Monday afternoon at Rio Tinto Stadium prior to the last training session before the game.

Between 2013 to 2016 Hatch was a member of the BYU Cougars where she played in 75 games and scored 47 goals along the way. The 5 ft 9-inch striker has a nose for goal and is entering the prime of her career as she continues to fight for a permanent role up top for the national team.

“It is a dream come true, especially to be able to come back especially given this is where I received my first cap and to see how far I have come since then I am just really happy to be back,” Hatch said.

The @USWNT have arrived at The Riot. #RSL @kslsports | @rslshow pic.twitter.com/FpFyITfML6

— Andy Muñoz (@andyxmunoz) June 27, 2022

At the club level, Hatch is playing for the Washington Spirit after stints with Melbourne City and North Carolina Courage. She has been with Washington since 2018 and has amassed 28 goals in 82 appearances.

Prior to the fixture against Columbia at Rio Tinto Stadium, Hatch has organized a tailgate that will feed up to 400 people with the help of a local barbeque restaurant.  Hatch hopes to receive donations that will gift the Journey of Hope, a local Utah organization that further enhances the lives of girls, women, and LGBTQ+ members through case management, mentorship, and social advocacy. Family members and friends of Hatch will be present at the tailgate and fans attending the fixture are also welcome.

The fixture against Columbia will mark the second match in four days between the two countries. On Saturday evening, the USA dismantled Columbia 3-0 while only allowing the visitors one shot all game. Fortunately, many of the USWNT players are used to playing multiple games a week at the club level.

“A lot of us have played in the NWSL where you play lots of games really close together,” Hatch said. “I think we are really well prepared given the amount of film sessions and meetings that we have had.”

 Match Info

The USWNT and Columbia will kick off from Rio Tinto Stadium on Tuesday, June 28, at 8 p.m.

The match will be available to broadcast via ESPN.