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.
For more information about the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament, CLICK HERE.
CANADA
GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Sky Blue FC
GK- Erin McLeod | SWE / Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.
CB- Candace Chapman | USA / Sky Blue FC
CB- Carmelina Moscato | SWE / Piteå IF
CB- Shannon Woeller | USA / Rutgers University
FB- Melanie Booth | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
FB- Robyn Gayle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
FB- Lauren Sesselmann | USA / Atlanta Beat
FB- Chelsea Stewart | USA / UCLA
FB- Rhian Wilkinson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
M- Kaylyn Kyle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Diana Matheson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
M- Kelly Parker | USA / Atlanta Beat
M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / magicJack
M- Desiree Scott | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Brittany Timko | Unattached / sans club
F- Chelsea Buckland | USA / Oregon State University
F- Christina Julien | CAN / Ottawa Fury
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Western New York Flash
F- Melissa Tancredi | SWE / Piteå IF
CANADA A-Z
Booth, Melanie | 1984 | Burlington, ON, CAN | Burlington Youth SC
Buckland, Chelsea | 1990 | North Delta, BC, CAN | Walley SA
Chapman, Candace | 1983 | Ajax, ON, CAN | Ajax United
Gayle, Robyn | 1985 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Mississauga Dixie Hearts
Julien, Christina | 1988 | Williamstown, ON, CAN | Williamstown
Kyle, Kaylyn | 1988 | Saskatoon, SK, CAN | Silverwood Rangers
LeBlanc, Karina | 1980 | Maple Ridge, BC, CAN | Golden Ears Angels
Matheson, Diana | 1984 | Oakville, ON, CAN | Oakville SC
McLeod, Erin | 1983 | Edmonton & Calgary, AB, CAN | St. Albert
Moscato, Carmelina | 1984 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Dixie SC
Parker, Kelly | 1981 | Saskatoon, SK, CAN | Saskatoon United SC
Schmidt, Sophie | 1988 | Abbotsford, BC, CAN | Abbotsford
Scott, Desiree | 1987 | Winnipeg, MB, CAN | Maples Cougars
Sesselmann, Lauren | 1983 | Green Bay, WI, USA | St. Bernard Elementary School
Sinclair, Christine | 1983 | Burnaby, BC, CAN | South Burnaby Metro Club Bees
Stewart, Chelsea | 1990 | Denver, CO, USA & The Pas, MB, CAN | Real Colorado
Tancredi, Melissa | 1981 | Ancaster, ON, CAN | Ancaster
Timko, Brittany | 1985 | Coquitlam, BC, CAN | Coquitlam City Panthers
Wilkinson, Rhian | 1982 | Baie d’Urfé, QC, CAN | Lakeshore
Woeller, Shannon | 1990 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | Douglas Park
STAFF
Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef : John Herdman
Technical Assistant : Rob Sherman
Goalkeeper Coach / Entraîneur des gardiens : Andrew Olivieri
Technical Analyst / : Andrew Peat
Soccer Scientist / : Cesar Meylan
Team Manager / Gérant d’équipe : Daniel Michelucci
Equipment Manager / Gérante de l'équipement : Maeve Glass
Staff / Personnel : Sian Bagshawe
Metal Trainer / : Ceri Evans
Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Judy Russell
Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Karla Van Beveren
