NWSL Seattle Reign FC

Five Reign FC Players to Compete in Algarve and Cyprus Cups

Published on February 21, 2015 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release


SEATTLE (February 21, 2015) - The U.S. Women's National Team (U.S. WNT) and Scotland Women's National Team have announced rosters for the upcoming Algarve and Cyrpus Cups. Included in U.S. WNT head coach Jill Ellis' 25-player roster is Reign FC goalkeeper Hope Solo, midfielder Megan Rapinoe, and forward Sydney Leroux.

Before the competition begins, Ellis will name 23 players to the tournament roster to face Norway, Switzerland and Iceland in Group B. The 22nd edition of the Algarve Cup tournament is being held in Portugal and runs from March 4-11.

The roster includes 22 of the 24 players that were in Europe for the USA's recent matches against France and England, with midfielder Megan Rapinoe, defender Christie Rampone and goalkeeper Hope Solo. After a formal review by U.S. Soccer, Solo was reinstated to the squad after serving a 30-day suspension last month.

The USWNT will open the tournament March 4 against Norway (11 a.m. PT), face Switzerland on March 6 (9 p.m. PT) and finish group play on March 9 (9:30 a.m. PT) against Iceland. The placement matches on March 11 (time TBD) will be determined based on best group play with the two best group winners competing in the championship final.

Nine of the 12 teams in the tournament will be participating in the 2015 FIFA Women's world Cup next summer in Canada, including the USA, Brazil, China PR, Germany, Sweden, Norway, France, Japan, and Switzerland.

The Scotland Women's National Team recently announced that Reign FC midfielder Kim Little and defender Rachel Corsie have been named to the roster for the Cyprus Cup, being held from March 4-11. Scotland will face Canada on March 4, play Italy on March 6, and round out the group stage on March 9 against the Republic of Korea. Every team will compete in a knockout stage match on March 11, with the highest seed from Groups A and B competing in the cup final.

Additional USWNT Notes:

Christie Rampone and Megan Rapinoe return to the roster after overcoming injuries that caused them to miss the USA's two-game European tour in early February, while Hope Solo returns after serving her suspension.

The USA has a 53-12-10 record all-time at the Algarve Cup and has scored 165 goals while allowing 61.

U.S. forward Abby Wambach comes into the tournament with 177 career goals, 21 of which have been scored at the Algarve Cup in 10 tournaments. Wambach is the top Algarve Cup scorer in U.S. history, having found the net eight more times than Kristine Lilly's 13 scores.

Rapinoe and Lori Chalupny head into the tournament with 96 caps each and both could earn their 100th if they play in all four matches.

U.S. midfielder Heather O'Reilly heads into the tournament with 215 career caps and earned her 200th last year at the Algarve Cup. O'Reilly will be playing in her 13th Algarve Cup and made her U.S. debut at the tournament in 2002 at the age of 17.

Four other players made their WNT debut at the Algarve Cup: goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris (2013), defender Whitney Engen (2012), defender Rachel Van Hollebeke (2008) and forward Amy Rodriguez (2005).

U.S. captain Rampone, who currently is the second most-capped player in U.S. history with 304, will lead the U.S. team that features 10 defenders. Rampone will be playing in her 14th Algarve Cup.

Midfielder Carli Lloyd was the MVP of the 2007 Algarve Cup after scoring in all four games that year. She also scored three goals in the 2010 tournament and has 10 goals in total at the Algarve Cup. That ranks third among active players behind only Wambach (21) and Alex Morgan (11).

Defender Ali Krieger (2013) and midfielder Tobin Heath (2008) scored their first WNT goal at the Algarve Cup. Both against China PR.

U.S. midfielder Lauren Holiday missed last year's tournament due to a family commitment. She has scored six goals in this tournament, as has O'Reilly.

The tiebreakers within the groups are as follows: 1) head-to-head result, 2) goal differential, 3) goals scored, 4) best Fair Play ranking from the group matches and 5) best FIFA ranking.

If two or more teams have the same points in different groups, the tiebreakers to determine the placement matches will be: 1) goal differential, 2) goals scored, 3) best Fair Play ranking from the group matches and 4) best FIFA ranking.

Each team is allowed six substitutions per game using four stops during the match. However, when the second half starts, each team can only make three stops to perform a maximum of six substitutions.

There are no suspensions for yellow card accumulation during the tournament, but an ejection during the tournament will result in a one-game suspension.

U.S. Women's National Team Roster By Position:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS (10): Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Heather O'Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (Western NY Flash)

Reign FC will open the 2015 season at home on Sunday, April 12 against Abby Wambach and the Western New York Flash. Season ticket packages for Seattle's upcoming season start at just $242. Fans looking to purchase tickets can call (855) REIGN-FC or visit ReignFC.com today.

Check out the Seattle Reign FC Statistics

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from February 21, 2015


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