TORONTO — Star striker Christine Sinclair will get another shot at a milestone 100th goal when Canada takes on the top-ranked U.S. in a two-game women's soccer series starting Sunday in Rochester, N.Y. The second leg is next Wednesday in Charleston, S.C.
American Abby Wambach also comes into the series with 99 career goals.
Sinclair has 99 goals in 130 appearances. She hit No. 99 two games ago on a 3-1 loss to England at the Cyprus Cup in March but was kept off the scoresheet in a 4-0 loss to the Americans on March 25 in Toronto.
The 26-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., leads a 24-woman roster chosen by coach Carolina Morace. Canada is currently ranked 11th in the world. The FC Gold Pride sniper is joined on the Canadian squad by five other WPS players: goalkeepers Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom) and Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles Sol), defender Candace Chapman (Boston Breakers), midfielder Kelly Parker (Sky Blue FC) and forward Melissa Tancredi (St. Louis Athletica).
Five others play for European clubs: Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, defender Brittany Timko and midfielder Kaylyn Kyle (Pitea IF, Sweden) and midfielders Diana Matheson and Diana Matheson (Strommen FK, Norway).
There are 12 from W-League squads.
Newcomers to the senior side are Bahar Sansar and Gina Pacheco. Sansar and Pacheco have both represented Canada at the under-20 level and play collegiately for the University of South Florida.
"With the absence of Martina Franko and Amy Walsh, this team will lack the veteran presence and experience," Morace said in a statement. "At the same time, this is a great opportunity for some of the other players to step up and take on a leadership role."
Morace is looking for her players to step up after the last loss the Americans.
"I would like to see more concentration on the field regardless of the situation," she said. "In our last match against the U.S.A., we made too many mental errors that cost us on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, we will not have much time to prepare the team for the upcoming matches." Canada
Goalkeepers: Karina LeBlanc, Los Angles Sol (WPS); Erin McLeod, Washington Freedom (WPS); Stephanie Labbe, Pitea IF (Sweden).
Defenders: Bahar Sansar, University of South Florida; Candace Chapman, Boston Breakers (WPS); Carmelina Moscato, Vancouver Whitecaps (W-League); Emily Zurrer, Penn State; Robyn Gayle, FC Indiana (W-League); Marie Eve Nault, Chicago Red 11 (W-League); Brittany Timko, Pitea IF (Sweden); Chelsea Stewart, Vancouver Whitecaps (W-League); Shannon Woeller, Vancouver Whitecaps (W-League).
Midfielders: Diana Matheson, Strommen FK (Norway); Kaylyn Kyle, Pitea IF (Sweden); Gina Pacheco, University of South Florida; Allysa Lagonia, Toronto Lynx (W-League); Kara Lang, UCLA; Rhian Wilkinson, Strommen FK (Norway); Kelly Parker, Sky Blue FC (WPS); Jodi-Ann Robinson, Vancouver Whitecaps (W-League).
Forwards: Christina Julien, James Madison University; Christine Sinclair, FC Gold Pride (WPS); Melissa Tancredi, St. Louis Athletica (WPS), Jonelle Filigno, Toronto Lynx (W-League).
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