Eight collegians were named to CanadaÆs 2003 Women's World Cup team. Even Pellerud selected Portland's Christine Sinclair, the 2002 SA Player of the Year, and Nebraska newcomers Sasha Andrews, Tanya Dennis and Brittany Timko, SMU goalie Erin McLeod, Penn State's Carmelina Moscato, TennesseeÆs Rhian Wilkinson and PrincetonÆs Diana Matheson to his 20-player roster. Dennis, Timko and Matheson are freshmen; Andrews transfers from SMU in January 2004. Notre DameÆs Candace Chapman was lost to a torn ACL in her left knee sustained during Canadian World Cup preparations.
Silvana Burtini, Andrea Neil and Charmaine Hooper have been selected to their third consecutive World Cup while Isabelle Morneau, Sharolta Nonen and Karina LeBlanc are the only other players who have World Cup experience, having played in 1999 in the United States.
There are six players from the U-19 team that was second at the 2002 U-19 world championship: Sinclair, McLeod, Andrews, Moscato, Timko and 16-year-old Kara Lang.
Dennis, 18, impressed in earning her first two caps against Mexico last week. Matheson, 19, earned her first cap earlier this year. Wilkinson made her national team debut against the U.S. in April.
CANADA ROSTER:
Goalkeepers — Karina LeBlanc (Boston Breakers), Erin McLeod (SMU/Vancouver Whitecaps), Taryn Swiatek (Ottawa Fury). Defenders — Sasha Andrews (Vancouver Whitecaps/Univ. of Nebraska), Breanna Boyd (Carolina Courage), Silvana Burtini (free agent),.Tanya Dennis (Univ. of Nebraska), Randee Hermus (Floya/NOR), Charmaine Hooper (Atlanta Beat), Isabelle Morneau (Ottawa Fury), Sharolta Nonen (Atlanta Beat). Midfielders — Kristina Kiss (Floya/NOR), Diana Matheson (Princeton Univ./Toronto Inferno), Carmelina Moscato (Penn State/Vancouver Whitecaps), Andrea Neil (Vancouver Whitecaps), Brittany Timko (Univ. of Nebraska/Vancouver Whitecaps), Rhian Wilkinson (Univ.. of Tennessee/Ottawa Fury).. Forwards — Kara Lang (Vancouver Whitecaps), Christine Latham (San Diego Spirit), Christine Sinclair (Univ. of Portland/Vancouver Whitecaps).