Pellerud Announces Brazil Series Roster

[Massive Attack]

Women's World Cup Team

Friday, July 11, 2003

Pellerud Announces Brazil Series Roster

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1334

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Women’s World Cup Team Head Coach Even Pellerud today announced his 17-player roster for the Brazil series which are to take place on Thursday, July 17th in Montreal and Sunday, July 20th in Ottawa.

Ottawa native Charmaine Hooper who played for the Nepean Hotspurs has earned 97 caps and 56 goals with the national team. Kristina Kiss who plays for Floya of the Norwegian Premier League is the other Ottawa native included on the roster with 39 caps and five goals. Kiss spent several seasons with the Ottawa Fury of the W-League.

The Canadian team will assemble in Montreal on Saturday, July 12th with the exception of three WUSA players who will arrive on later dates: Breanna Boyd of the Carolina Courage will arrive on July 13th, Christine Latham of the San Diego Spirit will arrive on July 17th, and Charmaine Hooper will join the team in Ottawa on Sunday, July 20th in time for the Ottawa game.

Karina LeBlanc will only play in Montreal and will rejoin the Boston Breakers on July 18th.

Veronique Maranda of St-Lambert, Quebec who earned her first cap with the Women’s World Cup team in Montreal when Canada defeated England 4:0 on May 19th will return from the Under-19 Women’s Team training Camp in Europe and join the senior team in Montreal.

Brazil will arrive in Montreal on Monday, July 14th, following their game in the United States on Sunday, July 13th.

Brazil earned their spot in the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup after winning all three games of the final round at the CONMEBOL Qualifying Tournament in Lima, Peru. Brazil beat Colombia 12-0 in their final game of the tournament on April 27, 2003.

“In the last three to five years, the Brazilians have established themselves a top ranked World Cup team with a fine combination of international stars playing in WUSA and upcoming new stars recruited form last years memorable Under-19 Women’s World Championship here in Canada. To me they are one of the main teams challenging for the podium at the World Cup starting this September,” said Pellerud.

Brazil has defeated Canada twice in their only two meetings; 2:1 on July 4, 1996 in South Dakota, and 4:2 on June 4, 1999 in Portland, Oregon.

“When coaching Norway I had the opportunity to play Brazil on several occasions. Since coming to Canada, I haven’t had any luck in persuading them to play the Canadian team. Spectators attending these games in Montreal and Ottawa will get to see the highest skill level based on the traditional Brazilian soccer culture.”

The match in Montreal will be played at McGill University’s Molson Stadium in Montreal at 7:00 p.m. McGill University has completed a $12.5 million renovation including a new FieldTurf surface to the 88-year-old Molson stadium located on the downtown university campus.

Tickets are priced at $12.00 and $18.00 plus handling and convenience charges and will be available through Admission by phone at (514) 790-1245, on the Admission website www.admission.com, and Admission ticket outlets.

The second game of the series will be played at Ottawa’s Frank Clair Stadium at 7:00 p.m. on July 20, 2003. Frank Clair is a 30,000 seat facility also featuring a FieldTurf playing surface.

Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster for the Ottawa match. Tickets are priced at $12.00 and $18.00 plus handling and convenience charges and will be available at all Ticketmaster ticket centers, the Ottawa Ticketmaster charge-by-phone centre at (613) 755-1166, and on the Ticketmaster website (www.ticketmaster.ca).

“Our team is looking forward to meet their fans in both Ottawa and Montreal again after the successful England series several weeks ago. These games could easily prove to be the Canadian Women’s World Cup team’s highlight of this summer’s preparations for the World Cup,” added Pellerud.

Games

Canada vs. Brazil Thursday, July 17th – 7:00 p.m. Molson Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

Canada vs. Brazil Sunday, July 20th – 7:00 p.m. Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario

Canadian Women’s World Cup Team Roster (Brazil Series)

Indepth information on all the players can be found at: www.canadasoccer.com/eng/nationals/teamroster_w.asp?teamid=4⊂=2

Name Pos. Hometown D.O.B. Caps G/S* Club

Amber Allen F Chilliwack, BC 21/10/75 10 3 Vancouver Whitecaps

Sasha Andrews D Edmonton, AB 14/2/83 13 0 Vancouver Whitecaps/U. of Nebraska

Melanie Booth D Burlington, ON 24/8/84 14 0 Toronto Inferno/Florida

Breanna Boyd D Edmonton, AB 10/6/81 43 2 Carolina Courage

Candace Chapman D/M Toronto, ON 2/4/83 18 1 Toronto Inferno/U. of Notre Dame

Randee Hermus M Langley, BC 14/11/79 40 2 Floya (Norwegian Premier)

Charmaine Hooper F Ottawa, ON 15/1/68 97 56 Atlanta Beat

Kristina Kiss M Ottawa, ON 13/2/81 39 5 Floya (Norwegian Premier)

Kara Lang D Oakville, ON 22/10/86 22 14 Vancouver Whitecaps

Christine Latham F Calgary, AB 15/9/81 25 7 San Diego Spirit

Karina LeBlanc GK Maple Ridge, BC 30/3/80 30 10 Boston Breakers

Veronique Maranda M St-Lambert, QC 18/8/86 4 0 FC Select Rive-Sud

Diana Matheson M Oakville, ON 6/4/84 7 1 Toronto Inferno

Erin McLeod GK Calgary, AB 26/2/83 9 2 Vancouver Whitecaps/SMU

Andrea Neil M Vancouver, BC 26/10/71 81 17 Vancouver Whitecaps

Taryn Swiatek GK Calgary, AB 4/2/81 4 1 Ottawa Fury

Brittany Timko M Coquitlam, BC 5/9/85 16 0 Vancouver Whitecaps

*Goals/Shutouts

Staff

Even Pellerud Head Coach

John Walker Assistant Coach

Shel Brodsgaard Goalkeeper Coach

Paolo Bordignon Athletic Therapist

Dr. Rudy Gittens Team Doctor

Cathy Ayoub Manager

Pam Lynch Nutritionist

Carolyn Savoy Sport Psychologist

Jamie Fales Equipment Manager

-------------------------

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None but ourselves can free our minds..."

Redemption Song - Bob Marley

[beachesl]

Would be REAL interesting series if Brazil (expected to be a first seed) draws Canada in the draw this coming Thursday, 2 pm EDT, just before the first game. Probably only likely if Mexico wins qualifying tomorrow, as if they don't the tourny might then keep the 4 Americas teams separate.

If Brazil plays a physical in-your-face game like their U-19's did in Edmonton last summer, could be a lot of bad blood built up.

Hopefully Pellerud is wrong, and the "team’s highlight of this summer’s preparations for the World Cup” will be the Mexico game at the end of August in Edmonton. It'll be my highlight, anywayz!