Canada WNT announces roster ahead of kick-off at Cyprus Cup

Canada’s Women’s National Team has announced its 22-player roster for the upcoming 2013 Cyprus Women’s Cup.

The Canadians will begin the tournament on Wednesday 6 March with a match against Switzerland at the GSZ Stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus (14.30 local kick-off; 07.30 ET / 04.30 PT).

Canada will then take on Finland on Friday 8 March at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus (17.30 local kick-off; 10.30 ET / 07.30 PT); before closing-out group play on Monday 11 March against the Netherlands back at the GSP Stadium (17.30 local kick-off; 10.30 ET / 07.30 PT).

Full match highlights from all of Canada’s games, as well as pre and post-match coverage at the tournament will be available on CanadaSoccerTV. Fans will also be able to follow live coverage on Twitter: @CanadaSoccerEN.

Canada’s roster for the Cyprus Cup features six players from the team’s Olympic squad who will be taking part in their first competitive action since the team’s bronze-medal triumph at London 2012.

Of note, captain Christine Sinclair will be eligible to make her return from suspension in Canada’s second game of the tournament on 8 March against Finland.

“The Cyprus Cup gives us a chance to continue our work in developing a new playing model that began in January at the Yongchuan Cup in China,” said Head Coach John Herdman.

“We now have the chance to integrate some more of the senior players that were part of the Olympic squad and of course the return of Christine Sinclair will allow us to continue with our progression as we fit her into the system.”

Canada, who won the tournament in 2011 and finished as silver medallists in 2012, are setting themselves the goal of making another run to the final at this year’s edition of the competition.

“Our goal is to get to the final, and to do it the way we want to play,” said Herdman.

“Canada have traditionally been one of the strongest nations at this tournament. Without losing focus of the playing style we are looking to see from our players, we expect to challenge for the title again this year.”

CANADA
GK- Stephanie Labbé | SWE / KIF Örebro DFF
GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Portland Thorns FC
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Chicago Red Stars
CB- Kadeisha Buchanan | CAN / Erin Mills Mighty Eagles U-16
CB- Carmelina Moscato | USA / Chicago Red Stars
CB- Lauren Sesselmann | USA / FC Kansas City
CB- Emily Zurrer | USA / Seattle Reign FC
FB- Melanie Booth | USA / Sky Blue FC
FB- Robyn Gayle | USA / Washington Spirit
FB- Ashley Lawrence | CAN / Erin Mills Mighty Eagles
FB- Chelsea Stewart | USA / UCLA
FB- Rhian Wilkinson | USA / Boston Breakers
M- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Rutgers University
M- Kaylyn Kyle | USA / Seattle Reign FC
M- Diana Matheson | USA / Washington Spirit
M- Christabel Oduro |
M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Sky Blue FC
M- Desiree Scott | USA / FC Kansas City
M- Brittany Timko |
F- Christina Julien |
F- Adriana Leon | USA / Boston Breakers
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC

CANADA A-Z
Booth, Melanie | 1984 | Burlington, ON, CAN | Burlington Youth SC
Buchanan, Kadeisha | 1995 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Brams United SC
Filigno, Jonelle | 1990 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | North Mississauga
Gayle, Robyn | 1985 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Mississauga Dixie Hearts
Julien, Christina | 1988 | Williamstown, ON, CAN | Williamstown
Kyle, Kaylyn | 1988 | Saskatoon, SK, CAN | Silverwood Rangers
Labbé, Stephanie | 1986 | Stony Plain, AB, CAN | Spruce Grove Saints
Lawrence, Ashley | 1995 | Calendon East, ON, CAN | Brams United SC
LeBlanc, Karina | 1980 | Maple Ridge, BC, CAN | Golden Ears Angels
Leon, Adriana | 1992 | Maple, ON, CAN | Vaughan Azzuri
Matheson, Diana | 1984 | Oakville, ON, CAN | Oakville SC
McLeod, Erin | 1983 | Edmonton & Calgary, AB, CAN | St. Albert
Moscato, Carmelina | 1984 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Dixie SC
Oduro, Christabel | 1992 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton United Flames
Schmidt, Sophie | 1988 | Abbotsford, BC, CAN | Abbotsford
Scott, Desiree | 1987 | Winnipeg, MB, CAN | Maples Cougars
Sesselmann, Lauren | 1983 | Green Bay, WI, USA | St. Bernard Elementary School
Sinclair, Christine | 1983 | Burnaby, BC, CAN | South Burnaby Metro Club Bees
Stewart, Chelsea | 1990 | Denver, CO, USA & The Pas, MB, CAN | Real Colorado
Timko, Brittany | 1985 | Coquitlam, BC, CAN | Coquitlam City Panthers
Wilkinson, Rhian | 1982 | Baie d’Urfé, QC, CAN | Lakeshore
Zurrer, Emily | 1987 | Crofton, BC, CAN | Cowichan Valley

Notes:

• Canada WNT midfielder Sophie Schmidt enters the 2013 Cyprus Cup on 99 International ‘A’ Appearances for Canada. Schmidt enters the tournament on a run of 54 consecutive ‘A’ Appearances for Canada.
• Melanie Booth, Jonelle Filigno, Carmelina Moscato, Christina Julien, Brittany Timko and Christine Sinclair will be looking to make their first compeitive appearances since featuring in Canada’s 21-player squad at London 2012.
• Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé is taking part in her first camp since the 2012 Cyprus Women’s Cup.
• Canada’s Women’s National Team is in its early preparations for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be played in Canada in 2015. The FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will feature the 24 best women’s football teams from around the world, will be played in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal and Moncton.
• Canada is one of 31 countries that is competing in three international women’s football tournaments that kick off on 6 March 2013, with both the Cyprus Women’s Cup and Algarve Women’s Cup featuring 12 teams and the Central American Games featuring 7 teams.