Female nominees for Canadian Players of the Year award

Josée Bélanger – CAN / Amiral de Québec – Coaticook, QC Josée was not a rookie, but she did make her first start as a member of Canada’s national team in 2010. She started seven games up front for Canada and even scored in her first start – a 1:1 draw with Norway on 3 June. She scored two more goals before year’s end, most notably against Mexico at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Cancún, Mexico. With her club Amiral de Québec, she scored three goals in six W-League matches.





Jonelle Filigno – USA / Rutgers University – Mississauga, ON Jonelle took part in her third season with the national team in 2010. She missed much of the first half of the year recovering from an injury, but made a triumphant return in time for the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Cancún, Mexico. She appeared in all five matches and scored four goals and three assists. At the university level, she co-led Rutgers University with 12 points.





Kaylyn Kyle – CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Saskatoon, SK Kaylyn took part in her third season with the national team in 2010. After making her season debut in Germany, she started in six-straight wins from 30 September in Toronto to the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier championship final on 8 November. At the club level, she played for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the W-League. She also scored a hat trick for Surrey United in the provincial final in May.





Diana Matheson – NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner – Oakville, ON Diana celebrated her eighth season with the national team in 2010, becoming just the sixth player to make 100 appearances for Canada. In February, she helped Canada win the Cyprus Women’s Cup, scoring the lone goal in the championship final against New Zealand. In September, she scored at home in Canada’s 3:1 victory over China PR at BMO Field. At the club level, Diana played for Lillestrøm SK Kvinner in Norway.





Marie-Eve Nault – CAN / Ottawa Fury – Trois-Rivières, QC Marie-Eve spent her third season with the national team in 2010. She was one of four players to make 13 appearances, making 11 starts as Canada’s left back. She helped Canada win the Cyprus Women’s Cup in February and the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier in November. At the club level, Marie-Eve spent the season with the Ottawa Fury of the W-League. She helped the team finish first in its division.





Sophie Schmidt – CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Abbotsford, BC Sophie anjoyed her sixth season with the national team in 2010, nearly scoring in her 50th career appearance on 8 November. She hit the post moments before Mexico commited a penalty and Canada scored the lone goal of a 1:0 victory to claim the CONCACAF title. At the club level, she scored two goals for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. At the university level, she was a First Team All American at the University of Portland.





Christine Sinclair – Unattached / Sans Club – Burnaby, BC Christine hit new heights in her 11th season with the national team in 2010, scoring her 100th career and becoming Canada’s all-time leader in appearances. Once again, she was shortlisted for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award. At the club level, she scored 10 goals and a league-best nine assists en route a Women’s Professional Soccer championship with FC Gold Pride.





Melissa Tancredi – CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Ancaster, ON Melissa took part in her seventh season with the national team in 2010. She scored two goals for Canada, one in a home Women’s International Friendly match at BMO Field and another in the opening match of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier. At the club level, she led Whitecaps FC with five goals in nine matches. She was a W-League All-League Team forward as the Whitecaps reached the championship final.