Former Vancouver Whitecaps FC star Christine Sinclair tallied four goals - twice in the each half -- and paced Canada to a comfortable 6-0 victory over Haiti on Thursday in the opening game for both at the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying tournament at BC Place.
Sinclair scored in the 25th, 43rd, 55th and 85th minutes to increase her international goal total to 124 and continue Canada's recovery from a last-place finish at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Haiti, which allowed only one goal in three matches in Caribbean qualifying, was spared a more lopsided score due to the acrobatic efforts of starting goalkeeper Ednie Limage and several other balls blocked off the line.
Limage had to leave the game in the 66th after going for a high ball and colliding with teammate Samantha Brand.
"We don't know many details," Haiti coach Ronald Luxieux said. "We know she was suffering and was taken to the hospital but we don't have any update. We think it may be a spinal injury."
Despite winning the 2011 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament, Canada scored only one goal in Germany and returned home with three losses. It has been rebuilding under new coach John Herdman, who replaced Carolina Morace following the World Cup and gained momentum with its first Pan American Games gold medal in October.
"If we play like this there are few teams that play with us," Herdman said. "It's an exciting time for Canada."
Canada started quickly Thursday. Former 'Caps striker Melissa Tancredi put a header on goal in the fourth minute that Kencia Marseille had to save off the line, but three minutes later Christina Julien had the North Americans in front.
Kelly Parker intercepted an attempted clearance, played a ball down the right side of the penalty area to Sinclair, who squared it across the top of the six-yard box to Julien, who simply tapped it under Limage.
Sinclair doubled the lead after Parker played a ball wide to Rhian Wilkinson.
Wilkinson sent it into the area to Sinclair, whose shot from 12 meters was partially blocked by Limage but still bounded across the line.
Wilkinson, Parker and Julien all had touches before Sinclair finished to hike the lead to 3-0 just before halftime, and Tancredi's over-the-head backward flick into the path of Sinclair, who settled off her thigh before scoring from 12 meters, was the highlight of the match.
"Christine Sinclair was outstanding tonight," Herdman said. "Certain players rise to the occasion and she's one of them. I think she will cherish this day."
Sinclair completed her scoring with a penalty, converting after Lovely Placide dragged down Parker with an arm around her neck.
Parker tacked on her own in the third minute of second-half injury time, forcing a save from Saintilus before corralling the rebound and rolling a ball across the line.
