Canada announces roster for USA match

Canada’s women’s national team has announced its roster for this week’s camp and upcoming international friendly match against USA. Carolina Morace has called upon 22 players for what will be her first home match as Canada’s national head coach. Canada faces USA this coming 25 May in Toronto.



The Canada-USA match, presented by Winners, kicks off at 19.00 at BMO Field. Tickets to the match are available via Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.ca / 416.872.5000). For those fans outside the Toronto area, the match will also be broadcast live on Sportsnet.



The 25 May match will be the 45th meeting between the two nations, but the first since last year’s quarter-final stage at the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in China. Canada pushed the eventual-Olympic champions into extra time before USA’s Natasha Kai scored the knock-out goal.



This is also USA’s first appearance in Canada in eight years. The world’s number-one ranked country made four trips to Canada between 1990 and 2001 (USA has three wins and a draw). As for Canada, it is currently riding a six-game unbeaten streak at home (three wins and three draws). Its last home match was a 1:1 draw with Brazil last 10 July 2008 at BMO Field.



Canada’s 22-player roster features seven players from the newly-formed Women’s Professional Soccer league, including Canadian captain Christine Sinclair. Sinclair was named WPS Player of the Week after scoring her second goal of the year in a 1:0 win over Chicago Red Stars this past weekend. At the international level, captain Sinclair and USA counterpart Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom) both enter the 25 May match with 99 career goals.



Canada’s 25 May opponent was originally scheduled to be Japan. Just this past week, Japan canceled its North American trip to USA and Canada. The two sides worked quickly to bring USA to Toronto for the 25 May match. USA, reigning Olympic champions, are already scheduled to host Canada on 19 July (Rochester, NY) and 22 July (Charleston, NY).



Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and whose presenting sponsor is Teck, has one of the best women’s programs in the world. In 2009, Canada has started its season with two wins, one draw and one loss, finishing second at the 2009 Cyprus Women’s Cup in March. Canada’s all-time home record is 26 wins, 5 draws and 16 losses. Canada currently has a six-game unbeaten record (3-3-0) at home.



Canada

1- G- Karina LeBlanc (USA / Los Angeles Sol)

2- D- Emily Zurrer (USA / University of Illinois)

3- D/M- Melanie Booth (USA / Boston Renegades)

4- M- Alyssa Lagonia (CAN / Toronto Lynx)

5- M/F- Chelsea Stewart (USA / Vanderbilt University)

6- M- Kaylyn Kyle (SWE / Piteå)

7- M/F- Rhian Wilkinson (NOR / Strommen)

8- M- Diana Matheson (NOR / Strommen)

9- D/M- Candace Chapman (USA / Boston Breakers)

10- D- Martina Franko (USA / Los Angeles Sol)

11- F- Christina Julien (USA / James Madison University)

12- F- Christine Sinclair (USA / FC Gold Pride)

13- M- Amy Walsh (CAN / Comètes de Laval)

14- F- Melissa Tancredi (USA / St. Louis Athletica)

15- M/F- Kara Lang (USA / University of California-Los Angeles)

16- M/F- Jonelle Filigno (USA / Rutgers University)

17- D/M- Brittany Timko (SWE / Piteå)

19- M- Kelly Parker (USA / Sky Blue FC)

20- G- Stephanie Labbé (USA / Piteå)

21- F- Jodi-Ann Robinson (CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps)

22- D/M- Marie-Eve Nault (unattached / sans club)

23- D- Carmelina Moscato (USA / FC Indiana)



Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef : Carolina Morace

Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint : Elisabetta Bavagnoli

Staff / Personel : Andrea Neil

Goalkeeper coach / Entraîneur des gardiens : Max Colucci

Manager / Gérant : Les Meszaros

Equipment Manager / Gérant d’équipement : Maeve Glass

Doctor / Docteur : Dr. Andrew Pipe

Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Judy Russell

Massage Therapist / Massothérapeute : Nicole Stephen

Athletic Therapist / Thérapeute athlétique : Wendy Laythorpe