Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - United States Women's National Team head coach
Pia Sundhage has named her preliminary 23-player roster that will travel to
the 2012 Algarve Cup in Portugal, it was announced Friday.
Sundhage fielded a strong team for the latest edition of the tournament as the
head coach included regular national team staples like Abby Wambach, Heather
O'Reilly, Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, and Carli Lloyd.
The United States, which has been drawn into Group B, will open Algarve Cup
play on Feb. 29 against Denmark. The U.S. will go on to face Norway on March 2
before finishing up group play against Japan on March 5. Its final group stage
match will mark the country's first meeting with Japan since the 2011 Women's
World Cup Final.
It is the 17th trip to the Algarve Cup for the U.S. Women, who have won the
tournament eight times. They won the competition last year, defeating Iceland,
4-2, in the championship match.
U.S. Women's National Team Algarve Cup Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS: Nicole Barnhart, Ashlyn Harris, Hope Solo.
DEFENDERS: Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen, Meghan Klingenberg,
Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O'Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky
Sauerbrunn.
MIDFIELDERS: Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather
O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez.
FORWARDS: Lauren Cheney, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach.
The Sports Network