Melissa Tancredi, left, and Christine Sinclair both played their roles in helping Canada book its trip to China. (Associated Press)
Column
Olympic Destiny
Canadian women’s soccer team off to Beijing this summer
Last Updated Thu., April 10, 2008
By Erin Paul, CBC Sports Weekend
Juarez, Mexico -- They believed. In themselves. In each other. In destiny.
On Wednesday night, in front of a partisan Mexican crowd, "Big Red" made history.
In a battle laden with echoes of the past and promises of the future, they became the first Canadian women's soccer team ever to claim an Olympic berth. They faced arch-rivals Mexico, who had unexpectedly knocked Canada out of the Olympic qualifier four years ago.
Wednesday, it was history repeating itself as the two teams locked horns for the last remaining Olympic spot. The United States had already claimed the other. The team's motto heading into this tournament - "We Believe".
Canadian forward Melissa Tancredi, known as "Tank", took advantage of a Mexican sweeper's slip to steal the ball and headed deep into enemy territory, making no mistake as she scored the lone goal of the match. It was her third winning goal in three straight matches.
Goalkeeper Erin McLeod posted her third shutout, as Canada earned the distinction of being the only team in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament not to have conceded a goal.
Their achievement has been a long uphill battle.
Years of being in the shadows to the men's team, despite their 9th place world ranking to the men's 62nd. If it wasn't for the generosity of their benefactor Greg Kerfoot, this team would not have reached the Olympics. His financing of their residency camp has fostered a team that was as dedicated to victory as it was to each other. At the training camp prior to the qualifier, Randee Hermus said "back in 2004, I don't think we had that same camaraderie, that sense of wanting to play for each other and die for each other and we have that now. " Prophetically, she added "And I think it will all come out in that game against Mexico".
And it did.
Up early by a goal, the team closed ranks to protect what Tancredi later called the toughest lead to hold. McLeod made a number of spectacular saves to keep the team ahead, including her last one which prompted an early celebration. Grabbing the ball at the end of injury time, knowing they had won the game and the trip to Beijing, she started celebrating with teammate Martina Franko. Until the referee told her she had to actually throw the ball back into play before the game could be called. McLeod - always a delightful and refreshing interview - laughed about her early celebrations later in the mix zone.
Celebrations in this case are well deserved. This was the team that found out their own soccer association had turned down the chance to host the qualifier while competing in the World Cup. Resigned to the fact it would be held in enemy territory, they were thrown another curve ball three days before they arrived in Juarez when 2500 military troops entered the city in attempts to quell violent drug war. Ignoring that, the team focused on what they had to do.
And they did it. When I saw coach Even Pellerud at their training camp last month, he said the team learned after their unexpected ousting during the World Cup in September that they needed more international experience. They spent the past three months overseas, winning the Cyprus Cup and playing in friendlies. I asked him where they found the money for that, since last year they had none prior to the World Cup. Their main competition had been boys teams in British Columbia. He told me they arranged the games and would worry about funding later, since their main focus was qualifying for Beijing.
Mission accomplished. Big Red, you are Beijing bound.
And perhaps now, with this historic performance, the Canadian women's soccer team will finally get the recognition they deserve in their own country.
Up next - they play the USA in the final of the tournament on Saturday.
About the Author
Erin Paul is a reporter and co-host on CBC Sportsweekend with Scott Russell. The former Gemini Award-winning associate producer and researcher with the Fifth Estate has also been a feature reporter with Rogers Sportsnet during her career. In September 2007, she covered the FIFA Womens' World Cup from China for CBC.
