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In case you missed it, the U.S. looked to be on the brink of missing out on an eighth Algarve Cup victory against Iceland before *spoiler alert* the team fought back to win 4-2. The USWNT’s strong finish capped off what was a nearly perfect tournament. Rather than rattling off a long list of stats to prove the point (like how the team conceded zero goals from open play in the group stage), here’s a one-worded assessment of each player.

Goalkeepers

Nicole Barnhart: Cool. Barnhart wasn’t tested all that often, but when she was she did just fine. Well, mostly. Aya Miyama’s free kick was so on point it didn’t even render a reaction from Barnhart. Perhaps she was so shell-shocked by Iceland’s first goal she didn’t have time enough to recover and conceded a second. Still, Barnhart was the calm, collected, no frills kind of goalkeeper her team can always depend on. Well, mostly.

Ashlyn Harris: Unutilized. The fact that Harris didn’t appear in goal for the USWNT in the meaningless Finland game means one thing: it’s all about World Cup preparation for the next few months so Barnhart gets to play while Solo is away. Maybe Harris will earn her first senior cap after the World Cup is done and over with.

Solo: Rested. Solo may still be recuperating from shoulder surgery and didn’t want to take any chances. That didn’t deter her from firing off what might-be-and-is-more-than-likely-but-you-know-how-she-is a dig at WPS on Twitter. Happy to have you back, Hope.

Alyssa Naeher: Surplus. So Solo was most likely never going to play, Harris is probably chomping at the bit to see some action and Barnhart was always going to get the nod. Why was Naeher there again? Then again, who can turn down a free trip to Portugal?

Defenders

Rachel Buehler: Consistency. Buehler is a rock in a constantly evolving backline. The Boston Breaker came up with several big stops and takeaways. Central defense is her domain. She was also the only outfield player to play every minute of the tournament.

Christie Rampone: Anchor. The veteran appears to be the emotional and vocal leader of the team. Although the seasoned defender got burned on the play that resulted in Iceland’s second goal, Rampone commanded a very tight defensive unit.

Ali Krieger: Unavoidable. The right-back dispatched several passes with pinpoint accuracy, one of which resulted in her first ever USWNT assist. Krieger should become a staple in the squad now, if she wasn’t before. Plus, with German league competition ending early for the World Cup, Krieger should be well-rested (and well-acquainted with the team’s destinations this summer.)

Becky Sauerbrunn: Quick study. Sauerbrunn is a player who benefited immensely from WPS. Her iron woman status with the Freedom (and lack of a clear-cut USWNT left-back) placed her in Sundhage’s sights almost by default. But Sauerbrunn has been holding her own since her call-up to the CONCACAF WWCQ tournament and more so. She swapped positions at both center-back and left-back in the Algarve Cup and nearly scored a goal against Norway. Credit her adaptation skills.

Stephanie Cox: Mystery. Cox remains a peculiar case. The outside back appeared in every game and started in two. The fact that she is the quintessential moving part in a line-up composed of moving parts is telling. The fact that she’s among three players competing for one position that is still without a guaranteed starter is also telling. The answers remain elusive.

Whitney Engen: Candidate. The young defender earned her first national team caps in Portugal, coming on for Ali Krieger in the U.S.’ first two matches. The competition between Engen and Brittany Taylor for the third right-back slot will be one to watch.

Amy LePeilbet: Caution. The ace central defender did not dress for any of the matches due to a knee issue.

Midfielders

Heather O’Reilly: Clutch. HAO! The USWNT’s requisite, indispensable, tireless, oft-unheralded, industrious workhorse is sometimes taken for granted because she’s been a permanent fixture in the starting XI for so long and she’s always just chipping away at the old block. Then she has a tournament like this one, appears at an opportune time to come up with the game-winner and one remembers just how essential she is. Woman of the tournament.

Carli Lloyd: Vindication. …and the notorious Lloyd paradox continues. The oft-embattled central midfielder had a solid tournament, scoring three goals and contributing one assist in 341 total minutes. That’s the thing with Lloyd: if she’s not losing possession in costly areas of the pitch and/or generally making boneheaded decisions she’s banging in significant goals and/or dishing out assists. The Algarve Cup saw the latter Lloyd and good on her.

Shannon Boxx: Obstinacy. The central midfielder stuck to a more defensive role which may explain why the team was constantly on the front foot (either that or the opposition was just poor). Boxx also appeared in the right place at the right time to contribute both a goal and an assist.

Tobin Heath: Rejuvenation. Welcome backs, Tobs! Heath played her first full 90 in years against Finland, possibly as a reward for some lovely moments against Norway. It seems as if all the time Heath has spent with the national team since recovering from her ankle injury is really paying off. Fortunately, said injury hasn’t adversely affected her trademark tricky footwork. It’s nice to see Heath’s creativity has a place in an occasionally overly rigid formation.

Megan Rapinoe: Creative. Megan Rapinoe had a very lively tournament, either scoring or assisting in every game she appeared in. It was her perfectly-weighted cross into Cheney’s path that gave the U.S. the crucial equalizer against Finland. Chalk it up to confidence or a system that works, Rapinoe is a creative force capable of turning a match. May it last.

Lindsay Tarpley: Renaissance. Tarpley may have just stamped her place on the USWNT World Cup squad. She played the full 90 against Japan and put forth a neat finish. The national team veteran may have spent the last few years nursing a variety of injuries, but she’s proven she has plenty of attacking quality to offer. An experienced forward ready to sub in and make an impact? Surely Sundhage won’t be able to resist.

Lori Lindsey: Contingency. Lori Lindsey made three cameo appearances, all in her preferred central midfield position. When things click between Boxx and Lloyd like they did in this tournament, Lindsey will simply be an option off the bench.

Kelley O’Hara: Freshness. The winger/forward played just 45 minutes, subbing in for a seemingly inexhaustible Heather O’Reilly. O’Hara is a dependable option when fresh legs are needed. They just weren’t really needed, I guess.

Yael Averbuch: Ignored. The only outfield player – other than the injured LePeilbet – to be omitted from every game day roster.

Forwards

Alex Morgan: Affirmation. The 21 year-old super sub was fearless and adventurous in front of goal, as always. Beyond that, she was a constant positive attacking force, playing one-two’s and combining well with Boxx and Lloyd. Her technical quality makes the fact she starting playing soccer at 14 all the more amazing. Her perfect touch to steer in ball for her first goal against Finland, the way she traipsed around three defenders and still scored against Iceland…Morgan is a true star.

Lauren Cheney: Contributor. Cheney’s role as a consummate teammate is becoming more and more defined. The lofty, burly striker rarely plays the full 90 but she makes her moments count by efficiently heading home crosses (like the one against Iceland) and pre-occupying defenders, thereby allowing creative sequences to flow. The 24 year-old contributed plenty more than her one goal and assist show.

Abby Wambach: Resourceful. Wambach’s time in Portugal was fairly limited as she played four consecutive 45 minute intervals. Still, Wambach continued to be a nuisance for opposing defenders both on the ball and off it. The super striker is emerging ever more as a stealth playmaker. Her physical attributes enable her to plough through defenders and open up space for onrushing attackers. Her through ball for HAO’s game-winner is a prime example.

Amy Rodriguez: Status quo. Rodriguez was productive, alert and active (one goal and two assists in three games) but also wasteful and indecisive in front of goal at times. A-Rod continues to be a mixed bag. Her deficiencies as a clutch national team striker are becoming more apparent with Morgan’s every appearance. It’s sad to see – and say – because she showed what she can do as the sole striker holding up the line in Philadelphia last year. That’s not her role with the USWNT, of course, but here’s hoping she’s more than a one-trick pony.

Want more? The goals are up on YouTube and here’s a match report on The New York Times Goal blog.

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