Pellerud Announces World Cup Roster

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Women’s World Cup Team Head Coach Even Pellerud today announced his 20-player roster for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in the United States.



Silvana Burtini, Andrea Neil and Charmaine Hooper have been selected to their third consecutive World Cup while Isabelle Morneau, Sharolta Nonen and Karina LeBlanc are the only other players who have World Cup experience, having played in 1999 in the United States.



There are six players from the Under-19 team which won a silver medal at the FIFA Women’s World Championship in 2002: Christine Sinclair, Erin McLeod, Sasha Andrews, Carmelina Moscato, Kara Lang and Brittany Timko.



Others include 18-year-old Tanya Dennis who impressed in earning her first two caps against Mexico last week; WUSA defenders Breanna Boyd and Sharolta Nonen (who was named to the WUSA First Team), Randee Hermus and Kristina Kiss who play for Floya in Norway, 19-year-old Diana Matheson who earned her first cap earlier this year, goalkeeper Taryn Swiatek who played for Canada at the Pan Am Games and striker Rhian Wilkinson who made her debut against the US in April.



“We have a strong roster with a good balance of youth and experience,” said Pellerud. “We have also a good mixture of speed, skill and leadership. It’s a very flexible and versatile roster which can be changed to play certain formations. We are ready to play the way that is needed depending on the opponent. It’s a team with an excellent fitness level and a healthy level of confidence.”



The squad will assemble in Kingston, Ontario on Thursday, September 11 and will play their final preparation game on Sunday, September 14 at Richardson Stadium in Kingston at 2:00 p.m. (live on Sportsnet in some areas).



The team will then travel to Columbus, Ohio on September 16 and will train there for four days before playing their opening game of Group C against Germany on September 20 at Crew Stadium at 5:45 local time (Rogers Sportsnet). Canada faces Argentina at 8:30 p.m. in Columbus on September 27 (Sportsnet) and wraps up the first round against Japan at 3:30 p.m. on September 27 in Foxboro (Sportsnet).



The Canadians are coming off two consecutive victories over Mexico (by a combined 14-0) and have not lost in nine games, dating back to a last-minute friendly against the United States on April 26. Since then they have won eight games (two-game series sweeps over Mexico – twice, England and Brazil) and drawn once (1-1 against Ghana on August 16).



Canada has played six World Cup games, losing four and drawing twice.



Games

Canada vs AustraliatSunday, September 14, 2003 – 2:00 p.m.tRichardson Stadium, Kingston, Ontario

Canada vs GermanytSaturday, September 20 – 5:45 p.m.tCrew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Canada vs. ArgentinatWednesday, September 24 – 8:30 p.m.tCrew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Canada vs. JapantSaturday, September 27 – 3:30 p.m.tGillette Stadium, Foxboro, MASS

Quarter-finalsttOctober 2, 2003 – TBAtttPGE Park, Portland, Oregon

Semi-finalttOctober 5, 2003 – TBAtttPGE Park, Portland, Oregon

Third-placettOctober 11, 2003 – 12:30 p.m.ttHome Depot Centre, Carson, California

FinaltttOctober 12, 2003 – 10:00 a.m.ttHome Depot Centre, Carson, California



Canadian Women’s World Cup Team Roster



NametPos.tHometowntD.O.B.tCapstG/S*tClub

Sasha AndrewstDtEdmonton, ABt14/2/83t18t2tVancouver Whitecaps/U. of Nebraska

Breanna BoydtDtEdmonton, ABt10/6/81t43t2tCarolina Courage

Silvana BurtinitD/FtWilliams Lake, BCt10/5/69t73t38tUnattached

Tanya DennistDtBrampton, ONt8/26/85t2t0tUniversity of Nebraska

Randee HermustDtLangley, BCt14/11/79t44t4tFloya (Norwegian Premier)

Charmaine HoopertD/FtOttawa, ONt15/1/68t100t57tAtlanta Beat

Kristina KisstMtOttawa, ONt13/2/81t43t5tFloya (Norwegian Premier)

Kara LangtFtOakville, ONt22/10/86t29t19tVancouver Whitecaps

Christine Latham tFtCalgary, ABt15/9/81t28t9tSan Diego Spirit

Karina LeBlanctGKtMaple Ridge, BCt30/3/80t33t12tBoston Breakers

Diana MathesontMtOakville, ONt6/4/84t12t1tToronto Inferno

Erin McLeodtGKtCalgary, ABt26/2/83t12t3tVancouver Whitecaps/SMU

Isabelle MorneautDtGreenfield Park, QCt18/4/76t57t6tOttawa Furyt

Carmelina MoscatotMtMississauga, ONt2/5/84t14t1tVancouver Whitecaps

Andrea Neil tMtVancouver, BCt26/10/71t86t18tVancouver Whitecaps

Sharolta NonentDtVancouver, BCt30/12/77t44t1tAtlanta Beat

Christine SinclairtFtBurnaby, BCt12/6/83t50t40tVancouver Whitecaps/U. of Portland

Taryn SwiatektGKtCalgary, ABt4/2/81t5t2tOttawa Fury

Brittany TimkotMtCoquitlam, BCt5/9/85t21t0tVancouver Whitecaps/U. of Nebraska

Rhian WilkinsontM/FtBaie D’Urfe, QCt12/5/82t5t2tOttawa Fury/U. of Tennesseet



*Goals/Shutouts



Staff

Les WilkinsonttHead of Delegation

Even PellerudttHead Coach

Ian BridgettAssistant Coach

Shel BrodsgaardttGoalkeeper Coach

Paolo BordignonttAthletic Therapist

Cathy CampbellttTeam Doctor

Jamie FalesttEquipment Manager

Kim SebrangottManager

Bob BirardattScout

Holly Mair Massage Therapist

Morgan QuarryttMedia Officer