Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team will begin what promises to be an eventful year by competing at the prestigious Algarve Cup in Portugal from March 1-7, 2002. The CSA also confirmed the Canadians will face Olympic Gold Medallists Norway at Centennial Stadium in Toronto on July 17 in an international friendly.
Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team will begin what promises to be an eventful year by competing at the prestigious Algarve Cup in Portugal from March 1-7, 2002. The CSA also confirmed the Canadians will face Olympic Gold Medallists Norway at Centennial Stadium in Toronto on July 17 in an international friendly.
This will be the third consecutive year Canada has competed in the annual tournament, which for the first time has expanded to 12 teams and three groups. The Canadians, who have become a regular fixture at the annual tournament held in the picturesque Algarve region of Portugal, have been grouped with newcomers Scotland and Wales and hosts Portugal in Group C.
At this year’s tournament, the 12 teams will be split into three groups of four, with first-round play consisting of round-robin matches within the group. The teams in Group A and B will compete for the title as those group winners will play in the championship game. The two second-place group finishers in Groups A and B will play for third place while the third-place finishers will play for fifth. The Group C teams will be competing for a chance to play for spots 7-12 as the winner of Group C will play the fourth place team in Group A, the second place team in Group C will play the fourth place team in Group B and the third and fourth place finishers in Group C will play each other again.
Canadian head coach Even Pellerud has always valued the Algarve Cup and this year’s tournament promises to be one of the most competitive in years. The Canadians were originally slated to compete in Group A but in an effort to avoid Portugal and England facing each other (considering they will face each other in World Cup qualifying), Pellerud agreed to move to Group C. As a result, Pellerud will not select his WUSA based players and will bring eight members of Canada’s Under-19 squad.
“With the number of games scheduled for 2002, this year’s tournament will give me an opportunity to see how younger players perform in a top-level competition, ” said Pellerud. “Our under-19 players will benefit from the experience as they prepare for the FIFA Under-19 World Championships in August in Canada.”
This year will be an important one for Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team as it attempts to qualify for the 2003 Women’s World Cup in China. Following the Algarve Cup, Canada will play a number of friendlies in Europe this spring before returning to Canada where they will face Norway at Toronto’s Centennial Stadium on July 17. The team will travel to Australia in August for the Pacific Cup and will then compete for one of three CONCACAF berths at the World Cup during the 2002 Women’s Gold Cup, to be held in October or November.
Canadian Women’s World Cup Team Roster For 2002 Algarve Cup
1tNicole WrightttGKt12.08.72ttVancouver Breakers
2tPatricia BourcierttMFt15.08.79ttUniversite de Laval
3tNoel TrepanierttDFt30.11.74ttOttawa Fury
4tCindy TyettMFt26.08.72ttScotia Olympics
5tAndrea NeilttMFt26.10.71ttVancouver Breakers
6tSasha AndrewsttDFt14.02.83ttSouthern Methodist University
7tIsabelle MorneauttDFt04.04.76ttUnattached
8tChristine SinclairttFt12.06.83ttPortland University
9tCandace ChapmantMFt02.04.83ttUniversity of Notre Dame
10tMelanie BoothttDFt24.08.84ttBurlington Flames
11tRandee HermusttMFt14.11.79ttVancouver Breakers
12tClare RustadttMFt27.04.83ttVancouver Breakers
13tAmy WalshttMFt13.09.77ttUnattached
14tHeather SmithttDFt26.07.83ttUniversity of British Columbia
15tKara LangttDFt22.10.86ttOakville
16tWanda RozwadowskatMFt14.01.81ttVancouver Breakers
17tAmber AllenttFt25.10.75ttVancouver Breakers
18tKristina KissttMFt13.02.81ttOttawa Fury
19tErin McLeodttGKt26.02.83ttSouthern Methodist University
22tTaryn SwiatekttGKt04.02.81ttOttawa Fury
Staff
Andy SharpettHead of Delegation
Even PellerudttHead Coach
Ian BridgettAssistant Coach
Lewis PagettObserver
Sophie DroletttObserver
Jerry KnutssonttGoalkeeper Coach and Equipment Manager
Erin PerryttAthletic Therapist
Cathy CampbellttTeam Doctor
Cathy AyoubttTeam Manager
9th Algarve Cup Tournament Schedule – 2002
Fri., March 1
Denmark vs. Germany tA
China vs. Finland tA
USA vs. Sweden tB
Norway vs. England tB
Portugal vs. Wales tC
Scotland vs. Canada tC
Sun., March 3
Finland vs. Denmark tA
Germany vs. China tA
Sweden vs. Norway tB
USA vs. England tB
Scotland vs. Portugal tC
Canada vs. Wales tC
Tues., March 5
Denmark vs. China tA
Finland vs. Germany tA
England vs. Sweden tB
USA vs. Norway tB
Portugal vs. Canada tC
Wales vs. Scotland tC
Thurs., March 7
Placement Games
3rd Group C vs. 4th Group C t11th Place Match
4th Group B vs. 2nd Group C t9th Place Match
4th Group A vs. 1st Group C t7th Place Match
3rd Group A vs. 3rd Group B t5th Place Match
2nd Group A vs. 2nd Group B t3rd Place Match
1st Group A vs. 1st Group BtChampionship Match