Canada announces roster for Juarez

Canada’s women’s national team announced its final roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament. The 20-player team left California today for Juarez, México, the site for the 2008 tournament.



“We are today finishing a very succesful precamp at Oxnard, California,” says head coach Even Pellerud. “The conditions on and off the field have been absolutely outstanding. The players have been very focused on the pitch, but still calm and relaxed. They have had quite some fun during these seven days of training and mental work.”



Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners, will face Trinidad & Tobago (2 April) and Costa Rica (6 April) in the opening round of the competition. Should the team finish first or second in its group, it will advance to the 9 April semi-final against a team from the opposite group. The United States, México and Jamaica are the three teams in the opposite group.



Should Canada win the 9 April semi-final, it will not only advance to the 12 April final, but it will also qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.



“The 20-player roster for the tournament is an interesting mix of experience (represented by players such as Christine Sinclair, Randee Hermus and Amy Walsh) and youthful newcomers (lead by Lexi Marton and Jonelle Filigno,” says Pellerud. “The players are healthier than ever before and we feel quite well prepared for this competition. With all the training sessions and a reasonable number of international matches this winter, this team is eager to go in and qualify Canada to the Olympic Tournament in Beijing!”



CANADA

1 Karina LeBlanc | G | Maple Ridge, BC

2 Kristina Kiss | D/M | Ottawa, ON

3 Melanie Booth | D/M | Burlington, ON

4 Clare Rustad | D/M | North Vancouver, BC

5 Robyn Gayle | D | Mississauga, ON

6 Sophie Schmidt | M | Abbotsford, BC

7 Rhian Wilkinson | F | Baie d’Urfé, QC

8 Diana Matheson | M | Oakville, ON

9 Candace Chapman | M | Ajax, ON

10 Martina Franko | D | Squamish, BC

11 Randee Hermus | D | Langley, BC

12 Christine Sinclair | F | Burnaby, BC

13 Amy Walsh | M | St-Hilaire, QC

14 Melissa Tancredi | F | Ancaster, ON

15 Kara Lang | F | Oakville, ON

16 Jonelle Filigno | F | Mississauga, ON

17 Brittany Timko | D/M | Coquitlam, BC

18 Erin McLeod | G | Calgary, AB

19 Alexandra Marton | D | Aurora, ON

21 Jodi-Ann Robinson | F | Richmond, BC



Head of Delegation / Tête de délégation : Angus Barrett

Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef : Even Pellerud

Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint : Ian Bridge

Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint : Bob Birarda

Goalkeeper coach / Entraîneur des gardiens : Paul Rogers

Team Manager / Gérant d’équipe : Les Meszaros

Equipment Manager / Gérant d’équipement : Maeve Glass

Athletic Therapist / Thérapeute athlétique : Becky Swan

Massage Therapist / Massothérapeute : Nicole Stephen

Massage Therapist / Massothérapeute : Shelby Harlan

Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Judy Russell

Doctor / Docteur : Dr. Kristin Houghton