Hope Solo kept off U.S. soccer roster because of injury
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Standout goalkeeper Hope Solo was left off the U.S. team for next month’s Algarve Cup in Portugal to have a long-standing wrist injury treated.
Solo, generally considered the best women’s goalkeeper in the world, has been playing with ligament damage in her left wrist. But the injury worsened recently and with qualifying for the 2015 World Cup more than a year off, the national team’s medical staff recommended Solo treat the injury now, perhaps through surgery.
Nicole Barnhart, Ashlyn Harris and Jill Loyden were the three keepers named to the team in Solo’s absence.
There were few other surprises on the U.S. roster, which is anchored by Abby Wambach, the FIFA world player of the year.
Wambach is five goals short of tying former teammate Mia Hamm for the most goals in women’s soccer history. She’ll be joined up front by Alex Morgan, who led the U.S. with 28 goals and 21 assists en route to an Olympic gold medal last summer.
Other familiar faces include defender and team captain Christine Rampone, midfielders Lauren Cheney, Tobin Heath, Shannon Boxx, Lauren Cheney and Megan Rapinoe and former UCLA striker Sydney Leroux.
The U.S. will open play in the tournament against Iceland on March 6, 366 days since the team last lost in a 1-0 decision against Japan.
The U.S. is 20-0-3 since then.
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