This ball of energy is quite the performer -- singing, dancing or playing soccer
By Marc Weber
When the Whitecaps women step into the glare of the W-League playoff lights in Santa Clarita, Calif. tonight, they'll need Desiree Scott to have a stage presence.
Vancouver is without its second-leading scorer, Jodi-Ann Robinson, who is focusing on school, and quite likely its leading lady, Melissa Tancredi, whose sister's wedding is this weekend in Hamilton, Ont.
Scott, a little ball of energy on the field and quite the performer off it, will be key to the attack against top seed Hudson Valley of New York.
Good thing she likes big-game pressure more than a Canadian Idol audition. Scott tried out for the singing reality show in her hometown of Winnipeg two years ago.
"They told me I was a good singer but to go check out a few karaoke bars and get some experience first because I got up there and my leg just started shaking," said Scott, who plans on becoming a music teacher. "Any day, I'd rather be on the pitch than singing in front of a crowd. I'm not a shy person, but I got up there and, oh my gosh."
Scott's certainly not shy in the locker-room, where she sings and dances to pump up her teammates. And she's not shy about taking defenders on, which makes her such a valuable asset to Caps head coach Hubert Busby Jr.
He's used Scott -- who calls herself "five-foot-one-and-a-half" -- on the right wing and also in a more central attacking midfield role.
The former University of Manitoba all-Canadian has scored once and added an assist in eight games this season.
"She's Speedy Gonzales," Busby said.
"Very dangerous in the final third. I wish at times she'd be even more aggressive, more selfish. If she does that, you'll see her elevate to a different level and she'll be, I believe, a tremendous addition to the World Cup team."
Scott is only back with the Whitecaps for the first time since 2006 because she's back in the national team mix.
Out of favour with former national team coach Even Pellerud, Scott spent the last three summers content to play club soccer in Winnipeg.
When Carolina Morace took over the Canadian squad in 2009, Scott was invited back into training camp. She played every game at the Cyprus Cup in March before a quadriceps injury kept her out of the Norway friendly in early June.
Playing in a more competitive summer environment was a must.
"I needed to take the opportunity and it's been really good," said Scott, who turns 23 on Saturday, the day of the W-League final. "I love the team, love the training."
And she loves performing "The Power Of Love."
"We like to jam out to Celine Dion," Scott said of the Caps' pre-game. "A nice ballad before the game. Dance, sing, get loose, that's what we do. And hopefully go get a couple of wins."
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W-LEAGUE FINAL FOUR
Harry Welch Stadium, Santa Clarita, Calif.
Today: Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Buffalo Flash, 5 p.m.; Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, 8 p.m.
Saturday: Third-place game, 3:30 p.m.; Championship game, 7 p.m. TV:Championship live on Fox Sports World Canada.
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