Vancouver Whitecaps Women News Release -- www.whitecapsfc.com
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The Canadian Soccer Association announced today the roster for the upcoming 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Vancouver, BC. Head coach John Herdman has selected 20 players that will compete in the eight-team competition from January 19-29, with all matches to be played at BC Place. Only the top two teams from the continental championship will qualify for the London 2012 Olympics.
"The team is very excited to show Canada what they can do in Vancouver,” said Herdman. “The players have been training for this chance to represent Canada and they are fully deserving of their selection.”
Among the 20 players selected by Herdman are 14 former members of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. They include goalkeeper Erin McLeod; defenders Melanie Booth, Candace Chapman, Robyn Gayle, Brittany Timko and Shannon Woeller; midfielders Kaylyn Kyle, Carmelina Moscato, Sophie Schmidt, Desiree Scott and Chelsea Stewart; and strikers Chelsea Buckland, Christine Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi.
Captain Sinclair, who joined the national team in 2000, is the program’s all-time leader in both appearances (168) and goals (120).
Group stage matches will be held from January 19-24 with Canada facing Haiti (January 19), Cuba (January 21) and Costa Rica (January 23) in Group A. The top two teams from the four-team group advance to the semi-final stage. Teams competing in the opposite group are Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico and defending champion USA.
The semi-final matches on January 27 will determine next year’s London 2012 Olympic participants. The finalists then advance to the CONCACAF championship match on January 29.
At the last CONCACAF championship just over a year ago, the top four finishers were Canada, Mexico, USA and Costa Rica.
Canada will open camp in early January in California. The team then arrives in Vancouver on January 14 before the opening match on January 19. All CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament matches will be broadcast by Sportsnet.