Robinson joins Canada for the Olympics

Richmond, BC’s Jodi-Ann Robinson has joined the Canadian team for the upcoming Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Previously nominated as a team alternate, she replaces injured forward Amber Allen on the 18-player roster. Allen is unable to participate in the Olympics after reinjuring her leg.
Robinson, still only 19 years old, is in her fifth season with the national team. She has six goals in 30 career games. In 2007, she was part of Canada’s FIFA Women’s World Cup team. At the youth level, she has participated in two FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups, with potentially a third this November at Chile 2008. She has 14 youth goals, third-most in Association history behind Christine Sinclair (22) and Brittany Timko (16).
In 2008, Robinson has scored four goals in 14 games. She has come off the bench 12 times, second most for a single national-team season (Timko has made 13 appearances off the bench in 2008). In 2008, Robinson has scored two goals as a starter (both on 27 July in an 8:0 win over Singapore) and two as a substitute.
As for Allen, she was somewhat of an inspiration after fighting back from injury to earn a nomination to this team. Allen had previously missed two FIFA Women’s World Cups because of injury (USA 2003 and China 2007). Allen had played in five games for Canada in 2008, the most-recent of which was on 26 July in Singapore (a 1:1 draw with New Zealand). Allen of Chilliwack, BC was the oldest player on the team at 32 years.
Along with Robinson’s nomination to the Canadian team, The Pas, MB’s Chelsea Stewart has been named Robinson’s replacement on the alternate list. Stewart, 18 years old, received her first call-up to the senior team last month before the 10 July friendly at BMO Field in Toronto (she did not feature in a 1:1 draw with Brazil). In June, Stewart (along with Robinson, Jonelle Filigno and Sophie Schmidt) helped Canada win the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Puebla, Mexico.