Canada announces friendly series with New Zealand

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s national women’s team announced today a two-match international friendly series with New Zealand. This two-match series, to be played 3 June and 6 June, will mark Canada’s first trip to New Zealand. Both teams are currently preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007 which runs this 10-30 September.



“New Zealand is quite a new adventure for us,” says Canadian coach Even Pellerud. “New Zealand is also a World Cup team and they have had problems finding international competition in the past. We have limited knowledge of their team, but we are very much looking forward to another challenge and a new opportunity to refine and improve our game fitness.”



Canada’s women’s team has played New Zealand three times: a 0:1 loss in 1987 at the Taiwan Cup, a 0:0 draw in 1993 at a CONCACAF tournament, and a 2:1 win in 2000 at the Pacific Cup (under coach Pellerud).



“Following a long winter short of real games, our World Cup team certainly is starving for international competition. Our recent performances against China and the United States proved we are inconsistent, not to mention rusty, for periods of the game. These previous games confirmed our need for more international friendly matches for the summer and early fall.”



After starting the season working on fitness and conditioning, Canada only recently began their 2007 international match season. They traveled as a team to China and lost 1:3 on 3 May and 1:2 on 6 May. With little rest, they then traveled to Frisco, TX where they lost 2:6 to the United States.



Of note, Christine Sinclair has scored two goals in two matches this season, giving her 70 in her international career. She needs one more goal to tie the Canadian record.