Rogers Sportsnet to feature Canada-USA match

The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Rogers Sportsnet will broadcast the upcoming 22 July match between Canada and USA’s women’s national teams. The match, which will be the 47th encounter between the two sides, will be broadcast live from Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC. The match will be carried on all four Sportsnet channels (20.00 ET / 17.00 PT).



“We are once again pleased to be providing Canadian fans coast to coast with the opportunity to watch world class international soccer on Sportsnet,” said Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli. “Coach Carolina Morace is driving our women’s program in an exciting direction as she establishes her identity on the National Team.”



Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and whose presenting sponsor is Teck, is using these matches in early preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. Qualification for Germany 2011 will begin next year with the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup.



The 22 July match in Charlston is the third in a three-game series between Canada and the world’s number-one ranked USA this year. Canada is looking for revenge after losing the opening match 0:4 on 25 May in Toronto. Game two will take place 19 July in Rochester, NY, three days before the 22 July match in Charleston, SC.



Canada’s women’s national team will have 24 players in camp before the 19 and 22 July matches. Of note, Canada’s Christine Sinclair and USA’s Abby Wambach are both looking for goal 100 of their international careers.



Defender Karli Hedlund has replaced Melissa Tancredi in the Canadian squad after Tancredi was forced to withdraw due to injury. Hedlund, who represented Canada at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2008, plays collegiately for the University of Arizona. This will be her first call-up to the national team.



Canada’s women’s national team assembles in Rochester today in advance of the Sunday match. Coach Morace and her staff are traveling from Boulder, CO where Canada’s women’s U-20 team has trained this past week. The players are arriving from their club teams in Canada, USA, Norway and Sweden.