Pellerud Selects 20-Players For Olympic Qualifications

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Women’s World Cup Team head coach Even Pellerud has announced his 20-player roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Olympic Qualifications in San Jose, Costa Rica from February 25 – March 5, 2004. The Canadian team travelled on Tuesday, February 17 to begin final preparations for next week’s qualifications.



Canada will compete in Group A with Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Panama and will begin against Jamaica on Thursday, February 26th at 4:00 p.m. (local). Canada will then play Panama on Saturday, February 28th at 1:00 p.m. (local) before ending group play against Costa Rica on Monday, March 1st at 8:00 p.m. (local).



“The World Cup success in the fall of 2003 is by now a good, but remote memory,” said Pellerud. “Our goals are high and we desperately wish to win a spot in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. We expect host nation Costa Rica to become our strongest opponent in the first round as they had a competitive team at the 2002 Gold Cup, and have an emerging program.”



This is the first CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament. The two finalists will gain berths at the Athens Olympics. Greece has an automatic spot as hosts while Sweden and Germany will represent UEFA based on their being the two highest finishing teams at the 2003 World Cup. Other Confederations will also hold qualifying tournaments. In 2000 and 1996, FIFA selected the top seven finishers from the previous World Cups along with the host country. The United States has been the sole CONCACAF representative in the last two Olympics.



The roster consists of 16-players selected from the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup in which Canada placed fourth; Tanya Dennis, Randee Hermus, Charmaine Hooper, Kara Lang, Christine Latham, Karina LeBlanc, Diana Matheson, Erin McLeod, Isabelle Morneau, Carmelina Moscato, Andrea Neil, Sharolta Nonen, Christine Sinclair, Taryn Swiatek, Brittany Timko, and Rhian Wilkinson.



New to Pellerud’s roster is Hamilton, Ontario native Melissa Tancredi; a defender named to the second team All-America squad in the 2003 NCAA season with the University of Notre Dame. This is her first call-up to the senior team. Others added who were not part of the 2003 Women’s World Cup roster are Aysha Jamani of Calgary, Alberta, Veronique Maranda of Saint-Lambert, Quebec, and Ottawa Fury/University of Tennessee midfielder/defender Marie-Eve Nault, of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.



“We have a strong team selected for this event in Costa Rica, where the two semi-final winners will go to Athens. There are three new athletes in the roster since the Four Nations Tournament in China: Christine Latham and Kara Lang are both recovered from injuries, and newcomer Melissa Tancredi is a former striker now transformed into a top NCAA defender.”



“Beginning today, we will use the next week of practice to meld the team together before we kick-off on the 26th,” added Pellerud.



CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Schedule Athens 2004

Final Round Competition

Hosted In San Jose, Costa Rica February 25 – March 5, 2004



Group A: Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama

Group B: Haiti, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, USA



Time (local)tGametTeam 1tTeam 2tVenue

02.25.2004

13:00tW1tMexicotHaïtitNacional

15:00tW2tUSAtT&TtNacional



02.26.2004

18:00tW3tCanadatJamaicatE.R. Cordero

20:00tW4tCosta RicatPanamatE.R. Cordero



02.27.2004

18:00tW5tMexicotT&TtE.R. Cordero

20:00tW6ttHaïtitUSAtE.R. Cordero



02.28.2004

13:00tW7tPanamatCanadatNacional

15:00tW8tCosta RicatJamaicatNacional



02.29.2004

13:00tW9tT&TtHaïtitNacional

15:00tW10tUSAtMexicotNacional



03.01.2004

18:00tW11tJamaicatPanamatE.R. Cordero

20:00tW12tCosta RicatCanadatE.R. Cordero



03.03.2004

12:00tWS1tWinner Group AtRunner Up Group BtNacional

14:30tWS2tWinner Group BtRunner Up Group AtNacional



03.05.2004

17:30tWCtLoser WS1tLoser WS2tE.R. Cordero

20:00tWFtWinner WS1tWinner WS2tE.R. Cordero



ROSTER



NametPos.tDOBtClub/AffiliationtHometown/Province

Dennis, TanyatDt08/26/85tUniversity of NebraskatMississauga, ON

Hermus, RandeetDt11/14/79tVancouver WhitecapstVancouver, BC

Hooper, CharmainetF/Dt01/15/68tAtlanta BeattOttawa, ON

Jamani, AyshatFt06/28/87tSouthwest UnitedtCalgary, AB

Lang, KaratFt10/22/86tVancouver WhitecapstMississauga, ON

Latham, ChristinetFt09/15/81tUniversity of NebraskatCalgary, AB

LeBlanc, KarinatGKt03/30/80tBoston BreakerstMaple Ridge, BC

Maranda, VeroniquetMFt08/18/86tSelecte Rive-SudtSaint Lambert, QC

Matheson, DianatMFt06/04/84tToronto InfernotOakville, ON

McLeod, ErintGKt02/26/83tVancouver WhitecapstCalgary, AB

Morneau, IsabelletDt04/18/76tOttawa FurytLongueuil, QC

Moscato, CarmelinatMFt02/05/84tVancouver WhitecapstMississauga, ON

Nault, Marie-EvetMF/Dt02/16/82tUniversity of TennesseetTrois-Rivieres, QC

Neil, AndreatMFt11/26/71tVancouver WhitecapstVancouver, BC

Nonen, SharoltatDt12/30/77tAtlanta BeattVancouver, BC

Sinclair, ChristinetFt12/06/83tVancouver WhitecapstBurnaby, BC

Swiatek, TaryntGKt04/02/81tOttawa FurytCalgary, AB

Tancredi, MelissatDt12/28/81tUniversity of Notre DametHamilton, ON

Timko, BrittanytMFt05/09/85tUniversity of NebraskatVancouver, BC

Wilkinson, RhiantMF/Ft12/05/82tOttawa FurytBaie D’Urfe, QC



STAFF



Newman, Adrian– Head of Delegation

Pellerud, Even – Head Coach

Bridge, Ian – Assistant Coach

Brodsgaard, Shel –Goalkeeper Coach

Sebrango, Kim – Manager

Campbell, Cathy – Team Doctor

Mair, Holly – Equipment Manager/Massage Therapist

Bay, Greg – Therapist