U.S. coach Pia Sundhage has selected four players for her preliminary roster for the Algarve Cup who weren't with her for Olympic qualifying, taking backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defenders Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg.
Five players who attended a training camp before a 2-1 exhibition win over New Zealand were dropped from the 23-woman roster announced Friday: goalkeeper Jill Loyden and midfielders Yael Averbuch, Kristie Mewis, Christine Nairn and Keelin Winters.
The Americans leave for Portugal on Feb. 20, and Sundhage will trim the roster to 21 before the U.S. opener against Denmark on Feb. 29. The Americans play Norway on March 2, then close first-round play in Group B against Japan on March 5 in their first meeting since Japan won last year's Women's World Cup final.
Group A includes Germany, Sweden, China and Iceland. The group winners meet in the final on March 7.
The U.S. has won the tournament eight times in 17 appearances.
The roster:
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.
