Sundhage Picks 20 For Algarve Cup

Wambach, Solo Head List of Yanks Going to Portugal

February 21, 2008

CHICAGO – Coming off a 17-day training camp, US women’s soccer team coach Pia Sundhage named 20 players, led by veterans Hope Solo and Abby Wambach, to March’s Algarve Cup roster.

The U.S. team will kick things off against China on March 5 in Group B action at the prestigious tournament, held from March 5-12 in southern Portugal. The Americans will also face Norway on March 7 and finish the first round against Italy on March 10.

The tournament also serves as useful preparation for the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying, which will be this April in Mexico.

Striker Abby Wambach

“The Algarve Cup is a very important tournament for several reasons,” said Sundhage. “First, it is excellent preparation for the Olympic qualification, especially playing four difficult matches in eight days. That is a test of our fitness, our mental toughness and also our depth. But also, like we faced in the Four Nations Tournament in China, it gives the team a chance to play against three very good teams in the group who all play different styles, and that is fantastic for the development of our team rhythm, as well as for our young players getting experience at a big tournament.”

This will be the 13th trip to the Algarve Cup for the U.S. women who from 2003-05 won an unprecedented three straight championships at what has become one of the world’s most competitive women’s international events. At last year’s Algarve Cup, the USA defeated Denmark, 2-0, in the championship game on goals from Kristine Lilly and Carli Lloyd in the team’s fifth consecutive Algarve Cup final.

While the USA will be without Kristine Lilly, its all-time leading scorer in Algarve Cup matches (13 goals), several players on the USA’s roster have seen some great success at the Algarve Cup. Last year, midfielder Carli Lloyd had a breakout tournament, scoring in all four matches to garner tournament MVP and top scorer honors. Wambach has scored nine goals in her tournament career, including a hat trick against Norway in the 2004 championship game.

Fifteen of the players on the roster were on the U.S.’s World Cup team, and all of these 15 have played in multiple Algarve Cups, including defenders Christie Rampone and Cat Whitehill, who will be playing in their eighth Algarve Cup. But Sundhage has also infused the roster with some young talent. Uncapped defender Rachel Buehler makes her first-ever tournament roster with the team after having played extensively with the U.S. U-21 squad.

Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, who has just four caps, was named to the roster and has the chance to play in her second Algarve Cup after earning her first cap in goal for the USA at the 2005 Algarve Cup in a 1-0 win over France. Barnhart joins Solo as one of the two goalkeepers on the roster.

The Entire 2008 Algarve Cup Roster By Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (2) (Gilbertsville, Pa.), Hope Solo (5) (Richland, Wash.);

DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler (1) (Del Mar, Calif.), Stephanie Cox (4) (Elk Grove, Calif.), Tobin Heath (1) (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Kate Markgraf (7) (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Christie Rampone (8) (Point Pleasant, N.J.), Cat Whitehill (8) (Birmingham, Ala.);

MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (5) (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Lori Chalupny (5) (St. Louis, Mo.), Angela Hucles (4) (Virginia Beach, Va.), Carli Lloyd (3) (Delran, N.J.), Leslie Osborne (4) (Brookfield, Wis.), Lindsay Tarpley (6) (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Angie Woznuk (1) (El Cajon, Calif.);

FORWARDS (5): Lauren Cheney (1) (Indianapolis, Ind.), Natasha Kai (3) (Kahuku, Hawaii), Heather O’Reilly (6) (East Brunswick, N.J.), Amy Rodriguez (3) (Lake Forest, Calif.), Abby Wambach (5) (Rochester, N.Y.)

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