CANADA CAMP IN THE UNITED STATES     16th July 2009

  from Soccer Canada report

Canada Women’s National team has announced a squad of 24 players to represent Canada in two friendly matches against the United States. The first match will take place in Rochester, NY on Sunday 19th July and the second on Wednesday 22nd July 22 in Charleston, SC.

There will not be much time in a six day camp to fit in two games and time for practices. "I would like to see more concentration on the field regardless of the situation,” says coach Morace. “In our last match against USA, we made too many mental errors that cost us on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, we will not have much time to prepare the team for the upcoming matches.”

As the team grapples with a new system, coach Morace stresses the importance of the quality of the performance over the result. However, the rivalry with the number one ranked USA runs deep. Canada will be looking to avenge  the 0:4 loss in Toronto on 25 May.

“With the absence of Martina Franko and Amy Walsh, this team will lack a veteran presence and experience,” says Morace. “At the same time, this is a great opportunity for other players to step up and take on a leadership role.”

Canada has held USA close in several of the recent contests, including a 1:2 loss in extra time in the quarter-final stage at the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing. The two matches in Rochester and Charleston will mark the 46th and 47th time Canada and USA have met internationally.

Canada’s team includes six players from the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPS): goalkeepers Erin McLeod from Washington Freedom and Karina LeBlanc from the Los Angeles Sol; defender Candace Chapman from the Boston Breakers; midfielder Kelly Parker from Sky Blue FC; forwards Melissa Tancredi from St. Louis Athletica and Christine Sinclair from FC Gold Pride.

The team also has five players from European professional clubs: Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe and defender Brittany Timko from Pitea IF in Sweden, midfielder Kaylyn Kyle from Pitea IF, Sweden; and, midfielders Rhian Wilkinson and Diana Matheson from Team Strommen FK in Norway.

To round out the squad there are 12 players from W-League teams. New selections to the senior side are Bahar Sansar and Gina Pacheco. Both have represented Canada at the under-20 level and play for the University of South Florida.

The Press interest in the matches is heightened because of the imminent scoring records of two players: One Canadian and one American. Canada’s Captain Christine Sinclair and the USA’s Abby Wambach will both come into the matches sitting on 99 career goals.

The matches will be Canada’s first in both Marina Auto Stadium, home of the W-League’s Rochester Ravens and USL’s Rochester Rhinos, and Blackbaud Stadium, home of the USL’s Charleston Battery.

CANADA

G- Karina LeBlanc WPS  LA Sol
G- Erin McLeod WPS Washington Freedom
G- Stephanie Labbe  Sweden Piteå IF
D- Bahar Sansar W-League  Comètes de Laval & U of South Florida
D- Candace Chapman WPS Boston Breakers
D- Carmelina Moscato W-League Vancouver Whitecaps FC
D- Emily Zurrer W-League Chicago Red 11 & USA / Penn State
D- Robyn Gayle W-League  FC Indiana
D- Marie Eve Nault W-League Chicago Red
D- Brittany Timko Sweden Piteå IF
D- Chelsea Stewart W-League Vancouver Whitecaps FC & Vanderbilt
D- Shannon Woeller W-League Vancouver Whitecaps FC & Rutgers
M- Diana Matheson Norway Team Strommen FK
M- Kaylyn Kyle Sweden  Piteå IF
M- Gina Pacheco W-League Ottawa Fury & U of South Florida
M- Allysa Lagonia W-League & Wilfred Laurier University
M- Kara Lang WPS Pali Blues & University of California-LA
M- Rhian Wilkinson Norway Team Strommen FK
M- Kelly Parker WPS Sky Blue FC
M- Jodi-Ann Robinson W-League Vancouver Whitecaps FC
F- Christina Julien W-League Comètes de Laval & James Madison U
F- Christine Sinclair WPS FC Gold Pride
F- Melissa Tancredi WPS Saint Louis Athletica
F- Jonelle Filigno W-League Toronto Lynx & Rutgers University

Head Coach : Carolina Morace
Assistant Coach  : Elisabetta Bavagnoli
Assistant Coach  : Andrea Neil
Goalkeeper coach : Massimiliano Colucci
Equipment Manager : Maeve Glass
Doctor                  Dr. Andrew Pipe
Physiotherapist Judy Russell
Massage Therapist Nicole Stephen
Conditioning Coach : Mario Familiari
Translator : Marco Masucci
Head of delegation : Dr. Dominique Maestracci & Rob Newman