U.S. Women’s National Team set for Olympic send-off match tomorrow vs. Canada

The U.S. Women’s National Team prepares for its final tune-up match for the 2012 London Olympics when it hosts Canada at 12 p.m. MT on Saturday, June 30, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The match will be broadcast live on NBC. More than 13,500 tickets have been sold for the match at Rio Tinto, the home of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake.

BEFORE AND AFTER: The USA is coming off victories against Sweden and 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Japan to win the Volvo Winners Cup in Halmstad, Sweden. Following the Canada match, the U.S. will have a nine-day break before heading to the U.K. for its pre-Olympic training camp. The Americans open their Olympic Games on July 25 – two days before the official Opening Ceremonies – with a huge clash against France at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland.

2012 U.S. WNT Schedule

* CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament
^ Algarve Cup
** Kirin Challenge Cup
^^ Volvo Winners Cup
~ 2012 London Olympics

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION – Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart, Jill Loyden, Hope Solo
DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler, Meghan Klingenberg, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn
MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach
Olympic alternates in italics (note: Christen Press is also an alternate but is not this camp)

U.S. ROSTER NOTES:

• Alex Morgan leads the U.S. WNT with 17 goals in 14 games and she has six multi-goal games this year. Following her two-goal effort en route to a 4-1 win against Japan on June 18, Morgan moved into a tie for 11th place on the all-time U.S. WNT list for goals scored in a calendar year with Shannon MacMillan (2002) and Abby Wambach (2006).
• Morgan’s scoring clip is a rarity in U.S. Women’s history. The last person to record double-digit goals at a rate of more than one goal per game during a calendar year was Mia Hamm, who had 18 goals in 16 games in 1997. Even Wambach, who is second on the USA’s all-time goal scoring list, has not averaged one goal per game in any year. She has been close on several occasions, including her 20 goals in 21 games in 2007.
• Morgan notched a hat trick – the first of her career – to lead the U.S. past Sweden 4-0 on March 7 in the third-place match of the 2012 Algarve Cup. With that effort, Morgan became the 15th player in U.S. history to reach double figures in goals during a calendar year.
• Goalkeeper Hope Solo leads the team in minutes played with 1,215 in 14 starts in the net for an 11-1-1 record this year.

USA VS. CANADA SERIES

• The U.S. extended its unbeaten streak to 25 games against Canada following its 4-0 victory on Jan. 29 in the title game of the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament in Vancouver. Alex Morgan had two goals and assisted Abby Wambach’s two goals. Wambach moved to No. 2 on the U.S. and world all-time scoring list with 130th and 131st career goals to move past former U.S. WNT teammate Kristine Lilly (130 goals).
• The USA is 42-3-5 overall against its neighbor to the north.
• Canada’s last victory against the USA was a 3-0 win on March 11, 2001, in Lagos, Portugal.
• In 2011, Wambach carried the USA offense in two matches against Canada, netting two goals during a 3-0 win against on Sept. 22, preceded by her lone goal during a 1-1 draw on Sept. 17. Lindsay Tarpley tallied a game-winner on Jan. 23 during the USA’s 2-1 victory over Canada during a trip to China that Wambach missed.
• In the only Olympics match between the U.S. and Canada, the USA came out on top with a 2-1 overtime victory in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Aug. 15. Natasha Kai tallied the game-winner in the 101st minute, Angela Hucles had the USA’s other goal in the 12th minute and Christine Sinclair had Canada’s lone goal in the 30th minute.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS

• Following her two-goal performance against Japan on June 18, forward Alex Morgan moved into a 16th-place tie for goals scored with National Soccer Hall of Famer Joy Fawcett with 27 goals. Next up on the scoring list is Brandi Chastain’s 30 goals.
• Morgan’s 42 points this year (17 goals, eight assists) is the most since Abby Wambach had 45 points (20 goals, five assists) in 2007.
• Midfielder Heather O’Reilly moved into sole possession of ninth all-time on the USA’s career assists board with 37, passing Michelle Akers (36).
• Midfielder Shannon Boxx moved into an eighth-place tie for career starts with Brandi Chastain with 160. If Boxx starts in the team’s next match against Canada on June 30, she would move into a seventh-place tie with Carla Overbeck, who had 161 starts in 168 games. Boxx currently has 167 caps overall.
• Lauren Cheney contributed her 10th assist of the year during the win against Brazil in Japan in April, becoming the first player to reach double digits in that category since Heather O’Reilly and Wambach each posted a team-high 10 assists in 2008.
• The USA is 88-2-5 all-time when Wambach scores a goal.
• Captain Christie Rampone surpassed 20,000 minutes played for her career during the USA’s 3-0 win against Brazil in the Kirin Challenge Cup on April 3. With 1,186 minutes logged this year, she now has 20,199 in her 14 years with the WNT. She is the fifth U.S. Women’s player to reach such a feat, joining Kristine Lilly (28,700), Julie Foudy (21,669), Mia Hamm (20,694) and Joy Fawcett (20,527).
• Rampone made her 250th career international appearance during the USA’s 2-1 victory against New Zealand on Feb. 11. Rampone (259 caps) ranks fourth all-time in U.S. WNT history, with Lilly (352), Hamm (275) and Foudy (271) ranking No. 1 through No. 3.

BY THE NUMBERS:

1 USA’s FIFA ranking
5 Goals scored in a game by Sydney Leroux (Jan. 22, 2012), Amy Rodriguez (Jan. 20, 2012), Abby Wambach (Oct. 23, 2004), Tiffeny Milbrett (Nov. 2, 2002), Michelle Akers (Nov. 24, 1991) and Brandi Chastain (April 18, 1991)
6 Games this year in which Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan have both scored
7 Canada’s FIFA ranking
7 Games this year in which Alex Morgan and Wambach both contributed at least one goal (7-0-0 record)
12 U.S. players who have scored a goal in 2012
25 The USA’s current unbeaten streak against Canada in which the team is 21-0-4
56 The current unbeaten streak for the USA in domestic matches in which the team is 50-0-6
65 U.S. goals in 2012 through 15 games (this number does not factor in China’s own goal)
194 Players who have earned a cap for the U.S. Women’s National Team since the program’s inception in 1985, the most recent being Whitney Engen, who earned her first cap against Norway at the Algarve Cup on March 4, 2011

PIA SUNDHAGE FACT FILE: Head coach Pia Sundhage is in the midst of her fourth full year in charge of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Below are some of her accomplishments as a player and coach.

• Sundhage is the sixth official coach and second female coach in the history of the U.S. Women’s National Team program.
• Sundhage’s record as head coach of the Women’s National Team is 81-6-10, with 251 goals for and 50 against.
• As a player, Sundhage was one of the game’s best-ever players, finishing sixth in the voting for FIFA Women’s Player of the Century. A legendary player in Sweden, she played for her country in the 1991 and 1995 Women’s World Cups and 1996 Olympics. She scored four goals for Sweden at the 1991 Women’s World Cup, helping the Swedes to a third-place finish. She scored one goal in the 1995 Women’s World Cup (against Germany) and played every minute of all three matches at the Atlanta Olympics.
• Sundhage started her coaching career while still playing, serving as player-coach for Hammarby from 1992-1994. She also coached Sweden’s Youth National Teams for 11 years from 1990-2001, coaching the U-16s, U-19s and U-21s.
• After her retirement from the international game in 1996, she became head coach of the Sweden Under-19 Women’s National Team, leading the team to one gold medal and two bronze medals at the European Championships. She served as a scout for Sweden during the 1997 European Championships, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2000 Olympics. Sundhage has also worked for FIFA on its Technical Study Group staff for the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in Thailand.
• Since taking over as head coach, Sundhage has given 17 players their first senior team caps.

IN FOCUS: CANADA
Canada Soccer Association
Founded: 1912 (Joined FIFA in 1913)
Head Coach: John Herdman
FIFA World Ranking: 7
Best FIFA World Cup Finish: Fourth place in 2003
Best Olympics Finish: Advanced to 2008 quarterfinals

CANADA ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Karina LeBlanc, 18-Erin McLeod
DEFENDERS (7): 2-Emily Zurrer, 3-Melanie Booth, 5-Robyn Gayle, 7-Rhian Wilkinson, 9-Candace Chapman, 20-Marie-Eve Nault, 22-Lauren Sesselmann
MIDFIELDERS (8): 4-Carmelina Moscato, 6-Kaylyn Kyle, 8-Diana Matheson, 11-Desiree Scott, 13-Sophie Schmidt, 15-Kelly Parker, 17-Brittany Timko, 19-Chelsea Stewart
FORWARDS (3): 12-Christine Sinclair, 14-Melissa Tancredi, 16-Jonelle Filigno

CANADA ROSTER NOTES:

• On June 25, Canada named its 18-player roster for the 2012 Olympics. This will be the second time Canada has participating in the Olympics in women’s soccer following its quarterfinal run in 2008.
• Of the 18 players on Canada’s 18 Olympic Team, 14 of them were CONCACAF champions in December 2010, including two-time champion Karina LeBlanc. Canada’s most experienced players, with more than 100 international appearances apiece are Christine Sinclair (captain), Diana Matheson, Rhian Wilkinson, Brittany Timko, Candace Chapman and LeBlanc. Seventeen players have participated in at least one FIFA Women’s World Cup, all with the exception of Lauren Sesselmann.
• Twelve of Canada’s 18 players also have experience from the last Women’s Olympic Football Tournament at Beijing 2008. That was the year Canada reached the quarter-final phase of the competition, falling in extra time to eventual champion USA. The six players hoping to make their Olympic debut at London 2012 are Sesselmann, Chelsea Stewart, Kelly Parker, Desiree Scott, Kaylyn Kyle and Carmelina Moscato.
• Seventeen of Canada’s 18 players came up through the Canadian national youth program (all but Sesselmann, who hails from Green Bay, Wisc.). Six players won a silver medal at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2002: Sinclair, Timko, Chapman, Erin McLeod, Carmelina Moscato and Robyn Gayle. Six players have also won a CONCACAF youth title with Canada, be it in 2004 (Timko and Emily Zurrer) or 2008 (Jonelle Filigno, Kaylyn Kyle, Sophie Schmidt and Chelsea Stewart).
• In the Olympics, Canada will face Japan on July 25 in Coventry, South Africa on July 28 in Coventry, and Sweden on July 31 in Newcastle. Both Japan (champion) and Sweden (bronze) were medal winners at the most recent FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011.

LAST TIME
On the field for the USA:
June 18, 2012 – Örjans Vall Stadium – Halmstad, Sweden – Volvo Winners Cup

USA 4 Alex Morgan 3, 61; Abby Wambach 10, 90+2
Japan 1 Yuki Nagasato 28

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 6-Amy LePeilbet (2-Heather Mitts, 69), 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 19-Rachel Buehler (4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 46), 5-Kelley O’Hara (11-Sydney Leroux, 81); 15-Megan Rapinoe (10-Carli Lloyd, 46), 7-Shannon Boxx, 12-Lauren Cheney (9-Heather O’Reilly, 68), 17-Tobin Heath; 13-Alex Morgan (8-Amy Rodriguez, 69), 20-Abby Wambach
Subs not used: 14-Meghan Klingenberg, 16-Lori Lindsey, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Jill Loyden, 22-Christen Press
Head coach: Pia Sundhage

JPN: 1-Ayumi Kaihori; 2-Yukari Kinga, 5-Aya Sameshima, 6-Mizuho Sakaguchi, 16-Kyoko Yano (14-Asuna Tanaka, 83); 8-Aya Miyama (capt.), 9-Nahomi Kawasumi (22-Karina Maruyama, 71), 10-Homare Sawa (4-Saki Kumagai, 57), 13-Rumi Utsugi (19-Megumi Takase, 79); 11-Shinobu Ohno (7-Kozue Ando, 58), 17-Yuki Nagasato
Subs not used: 12-Miho Fukimoto, 15-Saori Ariyoshi, 18-Megumi Kamionobe, 20-Ami Ohtaki
Head coach: Norio Sasaki

Vs. Canada for the USA:
Jan. 29, 2012 – BC Place Stadium – Vancouver, Canada – 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament

USA 4 Alex Morgan 4, 56; Abby Wambach 24, 28
Canada 0

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts (19-Rachel Buehler, 69), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 5-Kelley O’Hara; 8-Amy Rodriguez (14-Sydney Leroux, 63), 16-Lori Lindsey, 10-Carli Lloyd, 15-Megan Rapinoe; 13-Alex Morgan, 20-Abby Wambach (12-Lauren Cheney, 46)
Subs not used: 6-Amy LePeilbet, 7-Shannon Boxx, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 17-Tobin Heath, 18-Nicole Barnhart
Head coach: Pia Sundhage

CAN: 18-Erin McLeod; 2-Shannon Woeller, 5-Robyn Gayle (7-Rhian Wilkinson, 54), 9-Candace Chapman, 16-Lauren Sesselmann; 6-Kaylyn Kyle (14-Melissa Tancredi, 46), 15-Kelly Parker, 13-Sophie Schmidt (4-Carmelina Moscato, 61), 11-Desiree Scott; 12-Christine Sinclair, 10-Christina Julien
Subs not used: 1-Karina LeBlanc, 3-Melanie Booth, 8-Alyscha Mottershead, 17-Brittany Timko, 19-Chelsea Stewart, 20-Chelsea Buckland
Head coach: John Herdman