Canada's to field mixed roster of veterans and youngsters versus Koreans
TORONTO - Canada's women's soccer team that will face South Korea features 13 Olympic bronze medallists, plus a 16-year-old national team rookie.
Coach John Herdman has assembled a preliminary roster of veterans and young players for the Oct. 30 game at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium.
Star striker Christine Sinclair is one of the 13 who captured bronze for Canada at the 2012 London Olympics, while Sura Yekka, a 16-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., earned her first call-up to Canada's senior squad.
Canada, which has three wins and a loss all-time against South Korea, was beaten 3-1 by the Koreans the last time the two teams met, at the Yongchuan Cup tournament in January.
"South Korea will be a tough test for us," Herdman said. "Our loss to them. . .and their recent win over Japan has shown we will need to be on our game to get a result while still developing our new playing models."
Twelve of the 18 players on the current roster played the last time the two countries faced off.
The game marks the first at Commonwealth Stadium for the women since a friendly against Germany in 2005. There will be more to come in Edmonton, as Canada will play its opening game of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup at Commonwealth.
"This event provides the team with an excellent opportunity to develop the processes and systems around playing in the stadium where we'll play our opening match. . . and to continue to learn how to play at home," Herdman said.
