Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Women's Under-19 Team today defeated the United States 2-1 in front of 3,300 spectators at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa in the final of the CONCACAF Women's Under-19 Qualifying Tournament. Josee Belanger (Coaticook, QC) scored the game winner in the 118th minute for Canada's first win against Americans at the U-19 level.



Both teams advanced to the 2004 FIFA U-19 World Championships in Thailand set for November when they won their semi-final games in Montreal on Friday, June 4th.



Canada came out strong in the third minute as Katie Thorlakson (Langley, BC) forced American goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris into a diving save that led to a Canadian corner. The corner taken by Veronique Maranda (Saint-Lambert, QC) evolved into a goal mouth scramble for multiple Canadian shots on net. Aysha Jamani (Calgary, AB) capitalized on a rebound in the scramble for her fifth goal in the tournament.



The Americans tied up the game before the end of the half when Kerri Hanks picked up a rebound off the post and fired the ball into the top right corner of the net in the 43rd minute.



The second half ended with no goals and the game continued into two 15 minute periods of extra time with no golden goal rule.



Belanger's game winner and her fourth goal in the tournament, was a header to the opposite corner of the net on a 30-yard Kara Lang free kick.



“It's great to win against the Americans at the U-19 level,” said Head Coach Ian Bridge. “Long term, it's important that we will be one of the seeded teams in our group in Thailand and can avoid some of the top teams (in the group).”



“It was a great effort by the entire team and staff.”



Canadian keeper Stacey VanBoxmeer (Collingwood, ON) earned the “Goalkeeper of the tournament” award after an almost perfect tournament; she went four and a half games before today's American goal.



Rounding out the Canadian player awards; Emily Zurrer (Crofton, BC) was crowned Most Valuable Player after dominating in defence and scoring three headers (all on Maranda corners) in the tournament.



Hanks earned the tournament goal scoring title with a total of 10.



The Mexicans were awarded the Fair Play award.



In the earlier match of the double header, Costa Rica defeated Mexico 4-3 for third place in the tournament.



June 6, 2004 – CONCACAF Women's U-19 Qualifying – Final

Frank Clair Stadium - Ottawa, Ontario

Attendance: 3,300

Canada\t2 (1)

USA\t\t1 (1)

Goals: Canada-Aysha Jamani (3), Belanger (118); USA- Hanks (42)

Cautions: Canada- Robinson (75)

Canada: 1-Stacey VanBoxmeer; 2-Katie Radchuck; 5-Emily Zurrer; 7-Amanda Cicchini; 8-Veronique Maranda (10-Selenia Iacchelli, 77 (9-Lisa Coillison, 115)); 11-Josee Belanger; 14-Aysha Jamani (13-Jodi-Anne Robinson, 64); 15-Kara Lang; 16-Katie Thorlakson; 17-Brittany Timko; 18-Sari Raber; Head Coach: Ian Bridge

Subs not used: 3-Marie-Emilie Perrault-Morier; 4-Caroline Vanderpool; 6-Justine Labrecque; 20-Stephanie Labbe

USA: 18-Ashlyn Harris; 3-Rachel Buehler; 4-Nikki Krzysik (12-Yael Averbuch, 45); 5-Sheree Gray (14-Kia McNeill, 45 (7-Bristyn Davis, 116)); 6-Stephanie Lopez; 8-Stephanie Logterman; 9-Kerri Hanks; 10-Angela Woznuk; 11-Rebecca Sauerbrunn; 13-Alexa Orand; 20-Stacy Lindstrom; Head Coach: Mark Krikorian

Officials: R-Dianne Fierrera James (GUY); A1: Patricia Pacheco (SLV); A2-Paulette Riley (JAM); FO-Virginia Tovar (MEX)