Christine Sinclair Thread

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair up for FIFA World Player of the Year

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2005/10/13/1260977-cp.html

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2005/10/13/R101344AU.jpg
Canada's Christine Sinclair celebrates her goal. (AP '03/Nam Y. Huh)

ZURICH, Switzerland (CP) - Canadian striker Christine Sinclair is up for FIFA World Player of the Year.

The 22-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., has scored 53 goals in 71 internationals for the Canadian women's team. She plays collegiate soccer for the University of Portland where Monday she was named player of the week in the West Coast Conference for the fourth time in seven weeks.

Sinclair was one of 24 women and 30 men on FIFA's shortlists released Thursday.

"The players on this list are the best in the world and to even be considered is such a tremendous honour," Sinclair said.

"I didn't play a lot on the international stage this year, so that made it even more surprising to be recognized. I think it really is a testament to how far Canada has come in women's soccer, because if we don't climb in the rankings or perform well collectively, I wouldn't be in this position."

Canadian captain Charmaine Hooper made last year's shortlist.

Canadian women's coach Even Pellerud called Sinclair's inclusion in the list well-deserved.

"She has become a world star in my opinion," he said from Vancouver. "And she hasn't even peaked yet."

Sinclair is certainly on a roll in college play this season. She leads U.S. college players with 24 goals in 13 games and has scored in her last 14 outings for Portland (13-0-0).

"It's the best. This has been the best season by far at UP," she said from Portland. "It's been so much fun."

FIFA will announce the three male and three female finalists in late November or early December. The winners will be announced at the 15th FIFA World Player Gala on Dec. 19, at the Zurich Opera House.

Last year's winner Birgit Prinz of Germany edged out now-retired Mia Hamm and Brazilian youngster Marta.

This year's shortlist was drawn up by international experts on FIFA's different committees.

Like last year, the coaches and captains of men's and women's national teams around the world will be eligible to vote, FIFA said. They have all received the player lists and will have several weeks to submit their votes.

FIFA will also present the Presidential Award and the Fair Play Award for 2005 at the gala.

Shortlist

Shannon Boxx (U.S.), Maribel Dominguez (Mexico), Laura Georges (France), Solveig Gulbrandsen (Norway), Ho Sun Hui (South Korea), Laura Kalmari (Finland), Satu Kunnas (Finland), Renate Lingor (Germany), Hanna Ljungberg (Sweden), Hanna Marklund (Sweden), Marta (Brazil), Sandra Minnert (Germany), Portia Modise (South Africa), Malin Mostrom (Sweden), Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria), Nordby Bente (Norway), Cathrine Paaske Sorensen (Denmark), Park Eun Sun (South Korea), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Homare Sawa (Japan), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Ane Stangeland (Norway), Christine Welsh (U.S.).

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair nets hattrick

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2005/11/11/1302992-cp.html

LINCOLN, Neb. (CP) - Canadian Christine Sinclair scored three goals and added an assist as the top-ranked University of Portland defeated Iowa State 5-0 Friday in the first round of the NCAA women's soccer championship.

The Pilots (19-0-1) will play either Nebraska or Creighton on Sunday in the next round. Sinclair, a native of Burnaby, B.C., who won her third West Coast Conference Player of the Year award this week, played just 38 minutes.

Portland was up 4-0 after just 17 minutes.

"It was just one of those days when everything seemed to go in, especially in the first half," Sinclair said. "For the first 20 minutes, we were just on fire. It was just one of those days."

Sinclair, who has an NCAA-record 21 career playoff goals, is now second in NCAA Division I history with 106 goals, breaking a tie with former Pilot Tiffeny Milbrett (1990-92, 94) and North Carolina standout Mia Hamm (1989-90, 92-93).

Her 243 career points are sixth in the NCAA record book.

Sinclair has 35 goals and nine assists on the season to lead the NCAA in scoring. The NCAA Division I single-season goals record is 37, set by Lisa Cole of Southern Methodist in 1987.

[supersjd]

Sinclair nets hattrick

This has got to help her win the FIFA Player of the Year. GOOD LUCK!

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair ties single-season NCAA goals record

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2005/11/11/1302992-cp.html

LINCOLN, Neb. (CP) - Canadian Christine Sinclair scored twice, tying the Division I record for goals in a season with 37 and propelling the top-ranked University of Portland to a 3-2 win Sunday over Nebraska in the second round of the NCAA women's soccer championship.

The Pilots (20-0-1) will face Arizona in a third-round matchup next weekend. Portland beat the Wildcats 3-0 in their only regular-season meeting.

Sinclair, a native of Burnaby, B.C., who won her third West Coast Conference Player of the Year award this week, also assisted on the third Portland goal, giving her five goals and two assists in two games. The two goals extended her NCAA record for career playoff goals to 23, and moved her to within 10 goals of the all-time NCAA career record of 118 held by Danielle Fotopoulos.

Nebraska (18-8-1) became the first team this year to score two goals against the Pilots, but the Cornhuskers could not contain the nation's leading scorer. With the score tied 1-1 midway through the first half, Sinclair outraced the Cornhuskers' netminder to a loose ball and scored into the open net.

Late in the half, Sinclair raced down the right sideline and sent a cross to Natalie Budge, who tapped it in for a 3-1 lead.

"It was huge," Sinclair said of Portland's third and final goal. "I think that goal deflated them and gave us some room heading into the second half."

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair up for top award

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2005/11/16/1309837-cp.html

ST. LOUIS (CP) - Christine Sinclair, who won the U.S. college soccer award last year, and four other Canadians are up for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy.

The five are among 15 finalists for the award, which goes to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America player of the year in Division I competition.

The award is regarded as U.S. college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy.

Sinclair, a senior from the University of Portland, is bidding to become only the third player to capture back-to-back Hermann Trophy awards. Mia Hamm (1992-93) and Cindy Parlow (1997-98), both of North Carolina, are the only others to achieve the feat.

The four other Canadians named finalists are: Katie Thorlakson of Langley, B.C., defender Candace Chapman of Ajax, Ont., (Notre Dame), Brittany Timko of Coquitlam, B.C., (Nebraska) and goalkeeper Erin McLeod of Vancouver (Penn State).

Sinclair, a native of Burnaby, B.C., who leads the Pilots and NCAA with 37 goals and 87 points, is also one of 24 women's players on the short list for FIFA's female player of the year.

Others in the running include last year's finalists: Heather O'Reilly of North Carolina; and Tiffany Weimer of Penn State.

The three finalists will be announced Dec. 9, with the winner to be named in St. Louis on Jan. 6.

2005 MISSOURI ATHLETIC CLUB HERMANN TROPHY WOMEN'S SEMIFINALISTS

Name Eligibility Position Hometown College/University

Jen Buczkowski Jr. Midfielder Elk Grove, Ill. Notre Dame
Lori Chalupny Sr. Midfielder St. Louis, Mo. North Carolina
Candace Chapman Sr. Defender Ajax, Ontario Notre Dame
Kerri Hanks Fr. Forward Allen, Texas Notre Dame
Sarah Huffman Sr. Midfielder Flower Mound, Texas Virginia
Lindsey Huie Sr. Midfielder Mission Viejo, CA. Portland
Erin McLeod Sr. Goalkeeper Vancouver, B.C. Penn State
Iris Mora Sr. Forward Cancun, Mexico UCLA
Heather O'Reilly Jr. Forward E. Brunswick, N.J. North Carolina
Jill Oakes Sr. Defender West Hills, Calif. UCLA
Christine Sinclair Sr. Forward Burnaby, B.C. Portland
Lindsay Tarpley Sr. Forward Kalamazoo, Mich. North Carolina
Katie Thorlakson Sr. Forward Langley, B.C. Notre Dame
Brittany Timko Jr. Midfielder Coquitlam, B.C. Nebraska
Tiffany Weimer Sr. Forward North Haven, Conn. Penn State

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair continues assault
By NEIL DAVIDSON

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2005/11/17/1311503-cp.html

(CP) - Just 22, Canadian Christine Sinclair has already made quite a splash in the soccer world.

The forward from Burnaby, B.C., has 71 caps and 53 goals for Canada, plus 108 career goals and 248 points for the University of Portland. Sinclair is on the 24-woman shortlist for FIFA's player of the year and is in the running to defend her M.A.C. Hermann Trophy as NCAA women's player of the year.

She is also a finalist for Soccer Buzz player of the year and has been named the best player in the West Coast Conference three times. Not to mention a candidate for academic all-American honours.

The clock is winding down on Sinclair's collegiate career. The top-ranked Pilots (20-0-1) host the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats (11-7-3) on Friday in the third round of the NCAA women's championship.

Sinclair has four games left if Portland makes it to the championship game, to be held at College Station, Texas.

Provided Portland keeps winning, the Canadian can add to her mark in the NCAA record book.

Sinclair is currently tied for the NCAA single-season scoring record of 37 goals, set by Lisa Cole of Southern Methodist in 1987. Her 84 points in 2005 are 13 shy of Mia Hamm's 1992 single-season mark.

Sinclair is 10 goals short of the NCAA career record of 118 held by Danielle Fotopoulos of SMU and Florida (1994-96, '98).

Pilots coach Garrett Smith says that is the only goalscoring record she may not break.

"I guess it's still within reach," he said this week from Portland. "But if you look at all the games that she's missed for the University of Portland because of international play, those goals could have easily been amassed during that time."

The Canadian already holds the NCAA record for post-season goals (23) and leads Portland in career goals and points.

Her 248 career points are good for fourth in the NCAA record book.

Portland beat Arizona 3-0 during the regular season and Smith is feeling confident.

"We've seen the pace that they have," he said. "We feel they're going to have to deal with us and as long as we've the No. 1 goal-scorer in the country on our team, I think they've got to worry about us a lot more."

Portland started recruiting Sinclair when she was 16 and playing for Canada.

"We knew early on how special this kid was." Smith said. "Just knowing her for the last four years here at the school, there's nothing this player can't accomplish.

"Does anything surprise us? Not really. She is the best."

Records don't mean much to Sinclair, who puts team first.

"Without a doubt. Christine appreciates an assist as much as a goal," Smith said.

The local newspaper has dubbed her the most unassuming superstar you'll ever see, according to her coach.

Teams have tried everything to stop Sinclair. None has succeeded, Smith says.

One ranked team ignored offence and threw everyone in defence.

"We've seen it all. It's nothing new to Christine. ... I don't know if there is anything new that be said or done."

The Pilots roster also includes Elsa Hume, a junior forward from Victoria who has often come on as a substitute for Sinclair.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair Named Academic All-American of the Year
11/25/2005

http://www.portlandpilots.com/sports/wsoccer/release.asp?release_id=3356

WALTHAM, Mass. – University of Portland senior forward Christine Sinclair (Burnaby, British Columbia) has been named the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American® of the Year for the University Division, becoming the first Pilot to ever receive the honor. The announcement came in conjunction with the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Women’s Soccer Teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The winner of the 2004 Hermann Trophy as the top college player in the nation, Sinclair leads NCAA Division I in scoring with 37 goals and 10 assists. Named as the West Coast Conference Player of the Year three times, she has led Portland to a 21-0-1 record and a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals. With 108 career goals, she is the second-leading scorer in the history of NCAA Division I women’s soccer. Sinclair is a Life Science major with a 3.75 G.P.A.

Sinclair is one of 13 scholar-athletes to be named to the Academic All-America® University Division first team.

The Academic All-America® Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA; a 2,000-member organization consisted of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.

http://www.portlandpilots.com/assets/sports/wsoccer/Sinclair.5449.jpg
2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Women’s Soccer Teams
University Division Academic All-America® of the Year: Christine Sinclair, University of Portland

[Joe MacCarthy]

Canuck honoured
By ANNE M. PETERSON

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2005/12/09/1346417-ap.html

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C. believes that somewhere Clive Charles is smiling.

The University of Portland striker turned pensive at the thought of her former coach, who died in 2003 of cancer. It was the beloved Charles who led the Pilots to their first U.S. women's soccer national championship, back in 2002. The Pilots did it again last Sunday.

"He would have that grin," Sinclair said of Charles. "He wouldn't have to say anything."

Sinclair, the nation's leading scorer with a record 39 goals this season, arrived with her team at the city's Pioneer Courthouse Square aboard a fire truck for a ceremony Friday in their honour. Mayor Tom Potter declared it "University of Portland Women's Soccer Day."

Among those attending were Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski and Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who said the Pilots were an inspiration to athletes statewide.

"It goes far beyond just the winning of the championship," Blumenauer told the team. "You're enriching our community and changing lives across the state."

The undefeated Pilots beat Oakville, Ont.,'s Kara Lang and her UCLA Bruins 4-0 in College Station, Texas, to capture the NCAA women's soccer College Cup. In the semifinal, Sinclair's penalty kick beat Penn State after neither team could score in regulation or overtime.

"We've come back and it's right into finals," said Sinclair, the Canadian national team forward, who graduates in two weeks. "I'm sure it will start to sink in over Christmas break."

Watching the festivities was U.S. women's national team member Tiffeny Milbrett, a Portland native who played for the Pilots under Charles in the early 1990s.

"He is still around, 100 per cent," she said of her former coach. "This is his work."

Charles coached the women's team from 1989 until 2002, the year the Pilots won their first national title in any sport.

This year, the Pilots went 23-0-2 for the best season in school history.

Portland joins North Carolina and Notre Dame as the only Division I teams to have won multiple women's titles, and the Pilots join North Carolina as the only national champions with undefeated seasons.

Portland also set a new NCAA record for season attendance at 40,841 - the highest attendance ever for a men's or women's soccer team.

Sinclair, who broke the NCAA single-season record for goals, scored 110 career goals, the second most in NCAA Division I history. She finishes with an NCAA record 25 career post-season goals.

Sinclair is genuinely surprised that the city has embraced the Pilots and women's soccer. The University of Portland is a Catholic school of about 3,300 students.

"We come back to Merlo Field and we have double the fans that we have enrollment in our university," she joked.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Soccer star Christine Sinclair's trophy case continues to grow

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2005/12/23/1366404-cp.html

TORONTO (CP) - The trophy case continues to grow for Canadian soccer player Christine Sinclair.

On Friday, the forward from Burnaby, B.C., was named Player of the Year by Soccer Buzz magazine, an NCAA women's collegiate soccer Internet site. The award is decided by a vote of NCAA coaches and Soccer Buzz staff.

Sinclair is the first repeat winner, having also won in 2002. Notre Dame's Katie Thorlakson, a forward from Langley, B.C., won the trophy last year.

Sinclair has already won the NCAA championship MVP in leading Portland to the U.S. college championship this season.

Sinclair and Thorlakson, along with Penn State's Tiffany Weimer, are finalists for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy as female player of the year. Sinclair, who led the U.S. with 39 goals this season, won the award last year.

The 2005 winner will be announced in January.

Sinclair has also won the Honda Award, another trophy given to the top college female soccer player. It is decided by balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program.

Honda Awards are given annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Sinclair also gets an automatic nomination for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.

Sinclair is also one of the eight outstanding student-athletes selected by the NCAA Honours Committee for their athletics success, academic achievement and community service as recipients of the NCAA Today's Top VIII Award.

A life science major, Sinclair was a member of the dean's list every term while at Portland. She is a three-time West Coast Conference Commissioner's Honour Roll selection and a three-time member of the WCC All-Academic Team.

Sinclair was also one of 24 women on the shortlist for FIFA player of the year, won earlier this month by Germany's Birgit Prinz.

Also Friday, Sinclair, Thorlakson and Penn State goalie Erin McLeod (Calgary) were named to the Soccer Buzz first all-American team.

Nebraska forward Brittany Timko (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Notre Dame defender Candace Chapman (Ajax, Ont.) made the second team. Florida's Melanie Booth (Burlington, Ont.) was on the third team.

UCLA freshman Kara Lang (Oakville, Ont.) and Nebraska defender Sasha Andrews (Edmonton) received honourable mention status.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair Awarded Second Straight M.A.C. Hermann Trophy

http://www.portlandpilots.com/sports/wsoccer/release.asp?release_id=3423

Christine Sinclair becomes just the third player in women’s soccer history to claim consecutive trophies

ST. LOUIS, MO. --- The amazing year continues for Portland Pilot senior forward Christine Sinclair as she was awarded her second straight Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy on Friday afternoon in St. Louis, Mo. Sinclair joins Mia Hamm and Cindy Parlow as the only three players to claim consecutive trophies. Sinclair is also the first to win both the Hermann and be awarded the NSCAA Scholar All-American of the Year in the same season.

The M.A.C. Hermann Trophy is regarded as college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy and over the years has honored some of American soccer’s biggest stars like Hamm, Claudio Reyna, Kristine Lilly, Tony Meola and Alexi Lalas. The award recipient is based on a vote of Division I coaches who are current members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Their selections were announced live to a national television audience on ESPNews.

Sinclair, who helped lead the Pilots to the 2005 NCAA Championship for Portland’s second title in four years, Notre Dame’s Katie Thorlakson and Penn State’s Tiffany Weimer were the three finalists for the women’s award. Maryland’s Jason Garey was awarded the men’s Hermann Trophy.

Sinclair led the nation in scoring and set an NCAA single-season record with 39 goals and 88 points in 2005, while claiming College Cup MVP honors. She has already been named the Academic All-American of the Year and the Honda Award winner, as well as being named the Player of the Year by Soccer Buzz, Soccer Times and Soccer America.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair again named top female

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2005/11/16/1309837-cp.html

ST. LOUIS (CP) - Canadian Christine Sinclair has become only the third woman to win back-to-back M.A.C. Hermann Trophies as the top female player in NCAA soccer ranks.

The University of Portland forward from Burnaby, B.C., beat out Notre Dame's Katie Thorlakson of Langley, B.C., and Penn State's Tiffany Weimer for the award. Sinclair joins Mia Hamm (1992-93) and Cindy Parlow (1997-98) as repeat winners.

Sinclair has already won a trunkful of trophies this year.

She won the NCAA championship MVP in leading Portland to a perfect season and the U.S. college championship. Sinclair led the U.S. in scoring with 39 goals, a single-season record.

The Canadian senior also won the Honda Award, another trophy given to the top U.S. college female soccer player. It is decided by balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program.

Plus, Sinclair was named player of the year by Soccer America magazine, Soccer Times magazine and Soccer Buzz, a women's Internet soccer site.

Sinclair was also one of the eight outstanding student-athletes selected by the NCAA Honours Committee for their athletics success, academic achievement and community service as recipients of the NCAA Today's Top VIII Award.

A life science major, Sinclair was a member of the dean's list every term while at Portland. She is a three-time West Coast Conference Commissioner's Honour Roll selection and a three-time member of the WCC All-Academic Team.

Sinclair was also one of 24 women on the shortlist for FIFA player of the year, won earlier this month by Germany's Birgit Prinz.

Just 22, Sinclair has already scored 53 goals in 71 games for Canada.

Both Sinclair and Thorlakson have been summoned by Canadian coach Even Pellerud for a Jan. 10-17 camp in Vancouver.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Players In The News
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Simply the Best – Christine Sinclair

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2372

Ottawa, Ontario – She may just be the best female player Canada has ever seen.

It’s been approximately 2 years since Canadians have had an opportunity to see Christine Sinclair live. So what has she been up to?

Well, following that game in September 2003 against Australia at Richardson Stadium in Kingston, ON, she and her Canadian teammates headed south for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sinclair (despite not being 100% due to the fact she had suffered through an illness a month earlier that had hampered her preparation), was instrumental in Canada’s historic run to the semi-finals in USA 2003, narrowly missing out on a chance to reach the final and another shot at the eventual winners Germany, after two late goals from Sweden relegated the Canucks to the bronze medal game.

While Sinclair did manage to squeeze in 17 caps and 8 goals with Canada since that bronze medal game against bitter rivals USA (Canada lost 3-1 with Sinclair scoring the lone Canadian goal), she has been lighting up the NCAA like no one before her…ok, well Mia Hamm maybe, but no one else.

Throughout her four-year career at the University of Portland, Sinclair has been showered with awards and accolades but 2005 has been a special year for the 22 year-old Burnaby native.

In mid-October, Sinclair was short listed for the 2005 FIFA Player of the Year.

And every year, more and more ‘Best of…’ and ‘Athlete of the Year…’ lists seem to appear and Christine’s name was front and center on every one in 2005.

Most notably, Sinclair was a finalist for what could be the most prestigious Canadian award – the Lou Marsh Award – given to the country’s top athlete of the year.

But from August to December this year, the shy, soft-spoken Sinclair has been busy re-writing the NCAA record-books.

On January 6, she was awarded the 2005 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy – awarded to the top female and male Division 1 College soccer players – making her only the third female to win the Hermann Trophy in consecutive years

The four-time All-American was also named the winner of the NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America Athlete of the Year in 2005, marking the first time a female athlete has won both awards in the same season.

Perhaps the clearest indication of Sinclair’s dominance in 2005 was the stunning single season goal-scoring record she set (39). Her 88 points marks the second highest in NCAA season history, trailing only Mia Hamm’s 97 in 25 games in 1992. Her 110 career goals are second in NCAA history and her 252 points rank fourth all-time.

She is Portland’s all-time leader in goals, points, game-winners and shots.

But she also scored when it mattered most, finding the net twice in Portland’s 4-0 win over UCLA (and fellow Canuck, Kara Lang) in the Women’s College Cup final in 2005, thus giving her 25 post-season goals over her career – another NCAA record.

In her short career with the Women’s National Team (made her debut on March 12, 2000), Sinclair has made 71 appearances (4th among active players and 6th all-time) but has scored a mind-boggling 53 times (2nd all-time), 11 shy of teammate Charmaine Hooper who has, coincidentally, 53 more caps than Sinclair.

“Christine is one of the best strikers in the World right now,” said Canadian Head Coach Even Pellerud.

“She has a quiet confidence and extreme composure in all areas of the game and perhaps most importantly, she has earned a great deal of respect throughout the world. We are all looking forward to following her next few years as she now moves out of university soccer and to the more intensive professional level. She has proved her ability to grow with the challenges, and her ability to lead by example will set the tone for the upcoming World cup and Olympic Games.”

In addition to balancing the demands of the college season and her duties with the Canadian National Team, she has somehow maintained a 3.75 grade point average in Life Science.

Is she the best female player Canada has ever produced? Some may argue not yet, but she is certainly making a pretty good argument.

AWARDS & HONOURS

2005
FIFA Player of the Year – short-list
Canada Soccer’s Female Player of the Year
Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy award-winner
NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America Athlete of the Year
Honda Award Winner
NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America first team
Soccer America and Soccer Buzz Athlete of the Year
Soccer America and Soccer Buzz first team All-American
CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-American of the Year
CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team
CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 First Team
NCAA Today’s Top VIII Award (recognizes eight seniors among all collegiate divisions for excellence both on and off the field)
Soccer Buzz West Region Player of the Year
Soccer Buzz All-West Region First Team
NSCAA All-West Region First Team
2005 College Cup MVP
College Cup All-Tournament Team
WCC All-Academic Team
All-WCC first team
West Coast Conference Player of the Year

2004
Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy award-winner
Honda Award finalist
NSCAA, Soccer America (MVP team) and Soccer Buzz first team All-American
Soccer Buzz West Region Player of the Year
NSCAA first team all-West Region
CoSIDA Academic All-America third team
CoSIDA Academic all-District VIII first team
UP Female Athlete of the Year
NSCAA Scholar All-America first team
West Coast Conference Player of the Year
All-WCC first team
WCC All-Academic Team

2003
Red-shirted 2003 season while participating in the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup for Canada.

2002
FIFA Golden Boot Winner – FIFA U19 Women’s World Championship - Edmonton
Soccer America and Soccer Buzz Player of the Year
Honda Award winner for top women’s collegiate soccer player
Honda-Broderick Cup nominee for collegiate women’s Athlete of the Year
UP Female Athlete of the Year
MAC-Hermann Finalist
Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of the Year (Oregon’s top amateur athlete)
NSCAA, Soccer America and Soccer Buzz first team All-American
NSCAA and Soccer Buzz all-West Region first team
West Coast Conference Player of the Year
All-WCC first team
WCC all-Academic list
CoSIDA/Verizon Academic all-District VIII first team
2002 College Cup offensive MVP
College Cup all-Tournament team

2001
NSCAA, Soccer America and Soccer Buzz first team all-American
Soccer America Freshman of the Year
UP Female Athlete of the Year
West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year
NSCAA and Soccer Buzz first team all-West Region

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair training with Canada's team
By BOB MACKIN -- 24 Hours Vancouver

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/01/13/1392286-sun.html

Christine Sinclair is back in Vancouver, but not with the Whitecaps. At least for now.

The 22-year-old from Burnaby is training through Monday with Canada's national women's soccer team as it readies for a busy 2006.

Sinclair finished her career with the University of Portland Pilots last month, guiding them to a second NCAA Division 1 women's soccer title in four years.

She had 110 goals and recorded the winning markers in both the 2002 and 2005 championships.

"My goal was to win the national championship," Sinclair said. "My team this year was unbelievable; we came out on fire."

Sinclair repeated as Herman Trophy winner for top female college soccer player in the United States and is also a star in the classroom. She registered a 3.75 grade point average in her life sciences studies.

"I work hard to get the grades I get," she said. "I'm proud because I wanted to get an education out of this."

Sinclair is also hoping to score a professional contract, perhaps this spring in Europe.

She won't rule out a return to the W-League's Vancouver Whitecaps, but it's a far cry from the American-based Women's United Soccer Association pro circuit. Sinclair dreamed of playing in the world's top pro league for women, but it suspended operations in 2004.

Sinclair is looking forward to playing at home and abroad for Canada as the team prepares for November's qualifying tournament for the 2007 Women's World Cup in China.

Meanwhile, Canada's under-20 women's national team will try to qualify Jan. 18-27 in Mexico for its world championship.

Three of eight teams in the North and Central American and Caribbean region (CONCACAF) will advance to the Aug. 16-Sept. 2 tournament in Russia.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair feeling lucky
By JIM MORRIS

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2006/01/12/1391276-cp.html

VANCOUVER (CP) - Christine Sinclair considers herself lucky. The smooth, goal-scoring striker from Burnaby, B.C., who led the University of Portland to two NCAA national championships, doesn't just feel fortunate for what she's already accomplished in her soccer career. It's the opportunities that stretch out before her she finds exciting.

Sinclair is a fixture on Canada's women's national team that will try to qualify for the 2007 women's World Cup in China and the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Two Swedish First Division women's teams have talked to her about playing professionally in Europe this year and the University of Portland has offered her a chance to return as a coach.

Decisions, decisions.

Sinclair, 22, knows not every woman has the same options, including some of her university teammates.

"There are three other people who graduated that their soccer career should not be done but they are not on a national team," she said during a break from a Canadian team training camp in Vancouver. "It's a shame for players like that who deserve more of an opportunity that there are none."

The chance to play professional soccer in Sweden is intriguing, Sinclair said.

"Right now (in Europe) they are the best leagues in the world," she said. "You've got all the top European teams. The Germans, Norway, Sweden, all those players play in those leagues."

Even Pellerud, the Norwegian-born head coach of Canada's national team, said women can earn decent money in Europe.

"The situation has changed the last couple of years," he said. "There are definitely teams in some countries that have funding to pay some players in a really good way."

If there was a draft of women college soccer players, Sinclair would definitely be one of the top picks.

"I would say she would be among the five best players I have ever coached," said Pellerud, who guided Norway to the 1995 women's World Cup championship and a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics.

Sinclair scored an NCAA single-season record 39 goals in leading Portland to an undefeated season in 2005.

She was the most valuable player of the championship tournament and won the Hermann Trophy for the second time as the best female player in U.S. college soccer.

As sweet as last year was, winning the 2002 championship had a more sentimental value.

Soon after winning the title, coach Clive Charles died of cancer.

"We were the underdogs," said Sinclair. "Clive had never won a national championship before. They'd managed to lose in every possible way. We ended up winning it and it turned out to be the last game he'd ever coach."

Even if she decides to play in Sweden the national team will remain Sinclair's top priority.

In November the team will play in the Gold Cup qualifying tournament. The top teams from that event will advance to the World Cup in China.

After that, it will be qualifying for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The Canadian women missed going to the 2004 Games in Athens when they were upset by Mexico, a team they had never lost to, in the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Sinclair said the bitter loss was a learning experience.

"As a team we're determined to never let that happen again," she said. "We know we should have beaten them so that's the frustrating part."

Sinclair is one of the best goal scorers Canada has ever produced. But her talent is more than one dimensional.

"She is very determined to score goals but also is willing to let other players score," said Pellerud.

"She has a lot of different qualities. The way she sees the game, she understands the spacing very well. Physically she is strong so she can turn around other players."

The next few years will help fine-tune Sinclair's talents.

"She is now leaning into a future where the game is more intense and more professional," said Pellerud. "The next step for her will be to become a part of that daily soccer life and still keep her life in balance so she is happy."

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair headed to Chelsea
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/02/13/1440591-cp.html

LONDON (CP) - Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair has signed to play for the Chelsea women's team.

Sinclair will be joined at Chelsea Ladies FC by veteran American star Tiffeny Milbrett. The Lady Blues play in the FA Women's Premier League. Chelsea spokesman Simon Greenberg said the club is waiting for work permits for the pair.

"If we can't get the necessary approvals for this season we will be looking at next season," Greenberg said Monday. "This is not just about bringing them in the short term."

Sinclair, a 22-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., led the University of Portland to the NCAA title and an undefeated season in 2005, setting an NCAA scoring record in the process. She also won the MAC Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate women's soccer player for the second year in a row.

Sinclair has 53 goals in 71 outings for the Canadian World Cup team.

Chelsea Ladies is next-to-last in the league and, with only two games left, is headed for a relegation playoff. The league will expand from 10 teams to 12 next year.

"Chelsea I don't know much about, but signing those two players for sure they have a high goal," Canadian coach Even Pellerud said from Vancouver.

There will be a four-team playoff between the Premier League's bottom two sides and the runners-up in the Northern and Southern leagues.

Milbrett and Sinclair also play for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the W-League, but their Premier League commitments won't clash.

Sinclair is due to join the Canadian national team for a camp in Mexico starting Feb. 21. Canada will play Mexico twice before taking on the Netherlands in Vancouver and Victoria next month.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair dons Canada's colours for first time in friendly against Dutch
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2006/02/28/1467013-cp.html

VANCOUVER (CP) - Striker Christine Sinclair is one of the best women soccer players Canada has ever produced but she has never worn the maple leaf in front of home town fans.

While she is a fixture up front for the W-League Vancouver Whitecaps, she will face international opposition here for the first time Wednesday night in the first of two exhibition games against the Netherlands.

"It's exciting," Sinclair, 22, who is second all-time among Canadian women with 55 goals, said Tuesday. "It's nice to finally have some home games.

"Away games, playing in Europe, those are important but to finally get them back at home, to have our fans out, the little girls out to see that they have a future (in soccer), that's very important."

The second game will be Saturday in Victoria.

The matches will eventually lead to CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) zone qualifying in November for the 2007 Women's World Cup in China.

The exhibition games follow a week-long camp in Mexico where Sinclair scored twice in a 3-1 win over the hosts Thursday in Mexicali. The teams tied 1-1 on Saturday in Palm Springs, Calif.

"Just to get together to play some quality teams, it's going to improve our team, so come November, hopefully we're peaking," said Sinclair who recently signed with Chelsea of England's women's premier league and led the University of Portland to the 2005 NCAA title.

While Canada has qualified for three consecutive World Cups, zone competition which includes the United States, ranked second in the world, is getting stronger, Sinclair said.

Canada's women missed the 2004 Athens Olympics when they lost 2-1 to Mexico in the zone qualifying tournament semifinal.

"Mexico is a great team now so I think from now on every World Cup-Olympics (qualifying) is going to be a battle," Sinclair said. "It still should be the United States and ourselves.

"We know we can outplay Mexico but anything can happen."

Canadian coach Even Pellerud felt overconfidence crept into the tie against Mexico and is expecting a better effort this week.

"I expect my team to play well every day," he said. "It has been grooming for years and has been together many times and I expect them to perform every day, not every second week."

Pellerud expects the Dutch, ranked 17th in the world, to employ a possession passing game against Canada.

The 13th-ranked Canadians will look for quick counter attacks and stretch the field with crosses from the flanks.

"We need to learn how to defend against a skilful team," Pellerud said."We have consistently good goal scorers with Charmaine Hooper and Christine Sinclair up front and we hope to take advantage of that."

While the Canadians have a good opportunity to be one of the two qualifiers among eight CONCACAF contenders, Netherlands coach Vera Pauw said her young club has an uphill struggle in its European group.

"For us, it is almost impossible," said Pauw whose side has never qualified for the World Cup and is tied for second with France in a group led by England.

Only one from the group will qualify and the Netherlands, which is bidding to play host to the 2009 European championship, has important games in March against Hungary and May versus France.

"These games are important to our main target of 2009 and not so much our World Cup qualification," she said of the matches against Canada. "By playing these games, we are challenged more.

"If we never played these games, we would never make the step to world class, top football."

NOTES: Canada and the Netherlands have played twice before with both matches ending in 1-1 draws . . . The CONCACAF qualifying tournament will be played at yet-to-be-named southern U.S. venues . . . Hooper will earn her 127th cap Wednesday, a record at the senior level for both men and women.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Familiar face returns to Whitecaps
By BOB MACKIN - 24 Hours Vancouver
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/04/28/1555105-sun.html

A familiar face was back on the pitch with the Vancouver Whitecaps' women's team Monday afternoon.

Christine Sinclair, arguably the top women's soccer player in North America, rejoined the team on opening day of training camp at Simon Fraser University.

Burnaby-born striker Sinclair last played with the team in 2002 when it was known as the Breakers. She went on to star internationally for Canada and led the University of Portland Pilots to a pair of National Collegiate Athletic Association championships.

Work permit woes thwarted the 22-year-old's plan to join Chelsea FC's women's team in England earlier this year, so she trained in Portland instead.

She's expected to start May 13's W-League home opener when the Seattle Sounders Saints visit Swangard Stadium.

"I can't wait, it'll be nice to play again in front of my family," she said.

Sinclair was among 15 Whitecaps at the initial workout, conducted by assistant coach Steve Simonson.

New head coach Bob Birarda was en route from the under-20 national team's Brazilian tour.

The Whitecaps, captained by veteran Andrea Neil, will be looking to dominate the Western conference again despite automatically qualifying for the W-League final four as host of August's tournament.

The 2004 champion Whitecaps were eliminated in the semi-finals last year.

"We're in it to win it," Sinclair said. "Anything less than that is disappointing."

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair back in style
By BOB MACKIN - 24 Hours Vancouver
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/15/1580828-sun.html

Welcome back, Christine Sinclair!

The 22-year-old Canadian national team striker scored twice Saturday night when the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Seattle Sounders Saints 4-1 in their W-League season opener at Swangard Stadium.

Burnaby-born Sinclair played for Vancouver in 2002 when the club was known as the Breakers.

She missed the last three seasons while she carried the University of Portland Pilots to a pair of National Collegiate Athletic Association championship victories.

A Whitecaps women's record 4,437 fans witnessed Sinclair's hometown comeback.

Sinclair beat Seattle goalkeeper Kelsey Rasmussen in the second minute when she took a ball passed through two defenders by Amber Allen. She also converted Tiffeny Milbrett's corner kick with a header in the seventh minute.

"It was hard not to come out on fire," Sinclair said. "I love playing here, the fans are awesome."

Captain Andrea Neil's 47th minute marker from Lindsay Rohla was followed two minutes later by Milbrett's unassisted goal. The Whitecap newcomer has 100 goals in 203 matches for the United States national team.

Seattle's Shuree Hyatt ended goalkeeper Sian Bagshawe's shutout attempt in the 68th minute on a pass from Tafara Pulse.

WHITECAPS MEN 3 - THUNDER 0

In USL First Division play, Alfredo Valente, Joey Gjertsen and David Testo scored in a 3-0 win for the Whitecaps men over the visiting Minnesota Thunder last night. New goalkeeper Tony Caig got the shutout before 4,556 fans.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair eyes NCAA award
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/06/21/1645713-cp.html

NEW YORK (CP) - Canadian Christine Sinclair could add another honour to her distinguished soccer resume.

The striker from Burnaby, B.C., is one of five finalists for the 2006 Honda-Broderick Cup as the top female athlete in the NCAA.

Sinclair led the University of Portland to a perfect season and the U.S. college title, earning MVP honours at the championship tournament. Her 39 goals in 2005 broke the NCAA all-time season mark and 88 points were the second highest in the NCAA for the season.

Sinclair is one of six soccer players in NCAA history with over 100 goals (110) and 30 assists.

The 23-year-old, who was Canada's top female soccer player for 2005, will suit up for the Canadian women's team Sunday when it hosts Italy in a friendly at Toronto's Centennial Stadium.

The other finalists for the Honda-Broderick Cup are Louisiana State basketball player Seimone Augustus, swimmer Mary DeScenza of the University of Georgia, gymnast Ashley Miles of the University of Alabama, and University of Texas softball player Cat Osterman.

The finalists were chosen by a vote of more than 1,000 NCAA member schools. The winner will be announced a press conference Monday. The trophy will be presented by Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who won the award in 1984.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair wins Honda award as top athlete
By ANDREA ADELSON
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/06/21/1645713-cp.html

NEW YORK (AP) - Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C., thought she had misunderstood the voice mail.

How was it possible that the soccer standout from tiny University of Portland beat out mighty basketball player Seimone Augustus and superstar pitcher Cat Osterman for the Honda-Broderick Cup as U.S. college's top female athlete?

Even Sinclair found it hard to believe. So she played the message back, and heard the same thing: "Congratulations. You have won the Honda-Broderick Cup."

"I think I'm still in shock," Sinclair said Monday, when she was presented the trophy by Olympic great Jackie Joyner-Kersee at a ceremony at Columbia University.

Sinclair set an NCAA season record with 39 goals, surpassing the mark of 37 set by Lisa Cole of SMU in 1987, and led the Pilots to the NCAA championship. She is one of six players in NCAA history with more than 100 goals and 30 assists.

Still, the forward went to a smaller school (enrolment 2,768) and has a much lower profile than Augustus and Osterman. Augustus led the NCAA in scoring and took LSU to the women's Final Four, winning The Associated Press's Player of the Year award for the second straight season.

Osterman, who won gold as a pitcher on the U.S. softball team at the 2004 Olympics, holds virtually every school record at Texas. She also set the NCAA record for strikeouts with 2,225, becoming the first player in collegiate history to surpass the 2,000 mark.

The other finalists were Georgia swimmer Mary DeScenza and Alabama gymnast Ashley Miles.

"I'm never surprised," said Judith Holland, a consultant to the executive board that votes on the winner. "It speaks to the fact that it's a fair process.

"Really, anyone can win. You don't have to come from a big name school. You don't have to be in basketball. It's what you do on the field, in the pool or whatever that makes the difference."

Picking winners from smaller sports seems to be a trend. Last year, Stanford volleyball player Ogonna Nnamani won. In 2004, Stanford swimmer Tara Kirk won after Connecticut basketball player Diana Taurasi was declared ineligible because she couldn't attend the ceremony.

Sinclair chose to attend Portland because of former coach Clive Charles and as a freshman in 2002 helped Portland win the NCAA championship. But it was a bittersweet moment. Charles had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and didn't have long to live.

"After all the years he coached and winning his first national championship, it just meant so much to him," Sinclair said. "To see his face when he was hugging that trophy, that was perfect.

"I don't cry too much, but after that game, I bawled."

Charles died the following August. But Sinclair never forgot him. This year, Sinclair and the three other seniors on the team wanted to win another championship for Charles, as the last group of players he recruited.

Never did Sinclair think she would set the NCAA single-season goal-scoring record. But coach Garrett Smith had other ideas. Before Sinclair's junior year, he said to her, "I think you can score 50 goals." Sinclair scoffed.

But Smith always thought it was possible.

"Christine's that good," Smith said. "Fifty goals is something that might be unattainable, but at the same time, it was realistic because she's the type of player you can raise the bar for."

Sinclair now has her sights set on playing for Canada as it tries to qualify for next year's women's World Cup and the 2008 Olympics. She flew to New York early Monday morning after an exhibition against Italy in Toronto. Canada won. No, Sinclair didn't score.

Softball pitcher Kristin Erb of Lock Haven University won the Division II award and basketball player Megan Silva of Randolph-Macon College won the Division III award. Swimmer Lindsay Payne of Williams College won the Inspiration Award after overcoming leukemia to star on her team.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Canada's next superstar
By BOB MACKIN -- 24 Hours Vancouver
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/07/05/1669135-sun.html

Christine Sinclair's trophy case is getting a tad crowded.

Her latest accolade came last week when she won the Honda-Broderick Cup as National Collegiate Athletic Association's female athlete of the year.

After learning she'd won via a voice-mail message, she flew to New York City's Columbia University to receive the award from American track and field legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

She arrived home to find she's nominated for top female collegiate athlete in the Lance Armstrong-hosted Espy Awards July 16.

Sinclair has a slew of conference, regional and national all-star and most valuable player citations. Her record-breaking 39-goal 2005 season and national championship victory with the Portland Pilots is the reason for all the fuss. She ended her college career with 110 goals - second-best in NCAA women's history - and joined Mia Hamm and Cindy Parlow as the only players to twice win the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy for top collegiate soccer player. She's also an academic star, who earned a life sciences degree when she wasn't on the pitch.

"Soccer is a team sport, the pressure comes from 'can your team produce?'" Sinclair said. "It's just an honour to win these awards, I had a good season but the highlight was definitely winning the national championship."

As awards go, there are only three on her wish list: W-League championship in August, Women's World Cup in September 2007 and an Olympic gold medal in August 2008. Whitecaps host the W-League final four, but success in the other tournaments in China will rely on Canada winning berths in regional qualifying tournaments.

"I want to try at some point playing overseas, it would be a great experience," she said. "Right now my focus is the national team and Whitecaps. If going overseas has to wait a couple of years, that's alright."

The five-foot-nine striker, a product of Burnaby South secondary, turned 23 June 12. She also played baseball and basketball in her childhood and youth, but she chose soccer because of her knack for scoring goals.

A national team mainstay since 2000, she scored seven times and led Canada to within a goal of winning the first FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship in Edmonton in 2002. She overcame a bout with mononucleosis before 2003's Women's World Cup in the U.S. and had three goals in Canada's fourth-place finish.

"I've been through a lot as a player, obviously gone through four years of college and played in big games there and gained a lot of experience," she said. "I've become more of a leader because I had to be on my college team. That's a big thing, you mature a lot in four years."

[Joe MacCarthy]

Home victory special for Sinclair
Burnaby striker stars as women Caps take title

Dan Stinson
Vancouver Sun Tuesday, August 08, 2006
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=b992edcd-4c1a-4f5a-b8c2-64caa9408019

In her heart of hearts, Christine Sinclair remains the girl next door who grew up playing soccer in her native Burnaby. It's what makes Sinclair so endearing in every conversation about her career in the game -- a still-young career that reached another milestone Sunday evening.

Playing in her first W-League final four playoff tournament, Sinclair scored the winning goal and played a part in the insurance tally, leading the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-0 triumph over the Ottawa Fury in the championship game at Swangard Stadium.

It capped an outstanding final four performance by Sinclair, who scored twice in the Whitecaps' 5-0 trouncing of the Seattle Sounders Saints in last Friday's semifinal round, finished with a tournament-best three goals, and was a unanimous choice as tourney MVP.

Where does the W-League crown rank in Sinclair's list of accomplishments in soccer? The 23-year-old striker didn't hesitate to answer.

"This is home, so it's pretty important," she said after the Whitecaps ran a victory lap with the spoils before 4,218 fans. "Any time you get a chance to win a championship at home, it's a little more special. This is right up there with anything I've won in my career."

Sinclair won NCAA Division I championships with the University of Portland Pilots in 2002 and 2005, and was twice named the Hermann Trophy winner as the NCAA's most outstanding female player. She established Pilots' and NCAA scoring records in the process, and was awarded the Honda-Broderick Cup as the NCAA's best female athlete earlier this year.

But all of those accomplishments were achieved away from home.

"This one was more fun," said Sinclair. "To be able to look up at the crowd and see your friends and family makes it a little more special. You want to play well in front of the people you know. It gives you a little more satisfaction."

Sinclair finished her first full season in a Vancouver jersey with a Whitecaps-best 12 goals and four assists. But a team effort was required to defeat the Fury in the first all-Canada championship game in the league's 11-year history.

Centre back Sasha Andrews made a major contribution, clearing a shot by prolific Fury striker Amy Vermeulen from an open net in the 17th minute and scoring the Whitecaps' third goal.

The Fury came close to scoring again in the 26th minute, when Vermeulen struck a rising shot into the side netting, with goalkeeper Erin McLeod beaten.

"It definitely would have been a different game if we had scored on those early chances," said Vermeulen, the runaway scoring leader in the playoffs with seven goals and one assist in five games. "We were unlucky not to have scored the first goal. We had the Whitecaps scrambling around a bit and should have taken advantage of those chances."

Sinclair had the fans breathing easier when she opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, toeing home a set-up pass from fellow striker Tiffeny Milbrett.

Fullback Martina Franko scored the insurance goal in first-half injury time, when she pounced on a rebound given up by Fury goalkeeper Leisha Alcia after she blocked a Sinclair shot.

McLeod preserved her second tournament shutout when she made a foot save on a breakaway shot by Fury winger Rhian Wilkinson in the 53rd minute. Then Andrews, who was the Whitecaps' best all-round player in the title game, capped the win with a header goal in the 74th minute.

It was the Whitecaps' second final four championship in three years. The 2004 team fashioned an undefeated record (17-0-1) en route to the title and this year's side was also unbeaten, at 13-0-1.

It was an especially satisfying win for first-year head coach Bob Birarda, who used 38 players during the season because many of his charges had commitments with Canada's senior national and under-20 teams. That list includes Sinclair, a veteran with the senior side.

"It was a great season for Christine and she deserves every honour she gets," said Birarda. "But this was also about our depth. I'm equally proud of every player that contributed to our success."

GOAL DUST: Midfielder Lindsey Patterson's goal lifted Seattle to a 1-0 win over North Carolina's Charlotte Lady Eagles in the consolation game for third place earlier Sunday ... Sunday's final game attendance was the second largest in the six-year history of the Vancouver franchise. The Caps drew a franchise-record 4,437 fans to their season-opening game against Seattle this year.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair wins academic award
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/08/16/1759327-cp.html

WALTHAM, Mass. (CP) - Canadian striker Christine Sinclair has added another award to her star-studded resume.

The Burnaby, B.C., native was the runaway winner for the ESPN The Magazine's academic all-American of the year. The award goes to the most outstanding student-athlete in the NCAA.

Sinclair, who led the University of Portland to the NCAA title to cap her college career, received 31 first-place votes from the 84 voters, more than double the total of the other 11 candidates.

"It is a tremendous honour to be given this award. My success in the classroom is as important to me as my performance on the playing field," Sinclair said in a statement. "This is as much a testament to the University of Portland and how it has prepared and molded me into who I am as a person, as it is an individual honour."

Sinclair, a three-time academic all-American, broke the NCAA record for single-season goals this past season with 39. Her 110 career goals rank her second in NCAA history, and her 252 points puts her fourth in the record books. She also set NCAA records for scoring in 17 consecutive games, and for her 25 post-season goals.

Sinclair is coming off a heady senior season, being selected the NCAA player of the year by several college women's soccer organizations, and winning the Honda-Broderick Cup as the collegiate female athlete of the year.

She was among the 24 players considered for the 2005 FIFA world player of the year for 2005. The 23-year-old Sinclair has 78 caps for Canada's national team.

Former recipients of the academic all-American of the year include Stacey Dales-Schuman of Brockville, Ont., who led the University of Oklahoma's women's basketball team to the NCAA championship game in 2002, Chad Pennington (1999-00), and Emeka Okafor (2003-04).

[Joe MacCarthy]

Players In The News
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Sinclair is in the running for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year!
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2559

Christine Sinclair makes
FIFA announces World Player 2006 nominees

Ottawa, Ontario - FIFA (Fédération Internationale of Football Association) today announced its 2006 World Player of the Year nominees. Among the candidates is Canadian Christine Sinclair.

This marks Sinclair’s second consecutive FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year nomination. Her name was also on the short list in 2005.

Sinclair is a Canadian soccer phenomenon. Her soccer career has been nothing short of remarkable and her list of achievements speaks for itself:

Named the W-League Championship Tournament MVP in 2006; Canada Soccer’s 2005 Female Player of the Year; NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America Athlete of the Year; Honda Award Winner; NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America first team; Soccer America and Soccer Buzz Athlete of the Year; Soccer America and Soccer Buzz first team All-American; CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-American of the Year; CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team; CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 First Team; NCAA Today’s Top VIII Award (recognizes eight seniors among all collegiate divisions for excellence both on and off the field); Soccer Buzz West Region Player of the Year; Soccer Buzz All-West Region First Team; NSCAA All-West Region First Team; 2005 College Cup MVP; College Cup All-Tournament Team; WCC All-Academic Team; All-WCC first team; West Coast Conference Player of the Year… The list goes on!

In university, Sinclair rewrote the record books. An Academic and first team All-American, Sinclair’s 39 goals for the University of Portland Pilots in the 2005 season earned her the NCAA single-season scoring record. She finished second only to American Mia Hamm, with 110 goals in 94 games, earning two national championships playing for the Pilots.

First inducted into the Senior Women’s National team in 2000, Sinclair has since played 82 games, scoring a staggering 57 goals. In fact, Sinclair played a massive role in Canada’s strong fourth place finish at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup, tabulating an impressive three goals.

Sinclair currently wears jersey number 12 for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC who compete in the W-League of the USL (United Soccer Leagues).The Burnaby native, stayed true to her form in 2006, scoring nine goals and four assists in eight regular season matches. She also managed to earn the W-League Championship Tournament MVP in 2006 when she led the Whitecaps to their second W-League Championship in three years.

Needless to say that most will agree that Christine Sinclair is a Canadian soccer superstar.

“Christine’s talent and skills for soccer has been obvious since her first game for the Senior National team as young teenager in Algarve cup 2000, where she scored against power house Norway. Since then she has kept scoring goals and caused all sorts of problems for confused defenders around the world,” said Canadian Head Coach Even Pellerud.

“At this time, she has emerged from her natural raw talent and genuine gifts and is standing out with performance consistency and leadership skills. Her impact on the World cup team cannot be overstated. She is by now the team captain and will lead our team into this fall’s World Cup qualifying tournament as well as into other upcoming international tournaments,' added Pellerud.

'She is clearly one of the more gifted soccer players I have ever coached - Men or Women, and she is a pleasure to work with.”

The winners of the player of the year award will be announced at the 16th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Opera House on December 18th. The lists of candidates for the prestigious awards were drawn up by football experts from different FIFA committees. The Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, in conjunction with women’s football experts from other FIFA committees, have nominated 20 players from the women’s game. The 30 players from the men’s game were chosen by the Football Committee and the Technical and Development Committee.

The following twenty women (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2006:

Laura Georges (France), Duan Han (China PR), Laura Kalmari (Finland), Kristine Lilly (USA), Renate Lingor (Germany), Xiaoxu Ma (China PR), Marta (Brazil), Malin Moström (Sweden), Monica Ocampo (Mexico), Cathrine Paaske Sörensen (Denmark), Kum Suk Ri (Korea DPR), Silke Rottenberg (Germany), Cheryl Salisbury (Australia), Lotta Schelin (Sweden), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Sandrine Soubeyrand (France), Ingvild Stensland (Norway), Cynthia Uwak (Nigeria), Abby Wambach (USA).

The following thirty men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA World Player of the Year 2006:

Adriano (Brazil), Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Petr Cech (Czech Republic), Deco (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Luis Figo (Portugal), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Kaká (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Frank Lampard (England), Jens Lehmann (Germany), Alessandro Nesta (Italy), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Franck Ribéry (France), Juan Román Riquelme (Argentina), Ronaldinho (Brazil), Wayne Rooney (England), Tomas Rosicky (Czech Republic), Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine), Lilian Thuram (France), Patrick Viera (France), Zinedine Zidane (France).

For additional information on the FIFA World player of the year, visit www.FIFA.com.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Sinclair misses Gold Cup practice
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2006/11/24/2487903-cp.html

CARSON, Calif. (CP) - A sore left hamstring kept striker Christine Sinclair from practising with Canada's women's soccer team at the Gold Cup tournament Friday.

Sinclair expects to play Sunday when Canada faces the United States in the Gold Cup final, which determines the champion of the region that covers North America, Central America and the Caribbean. "It's not worth getting hurt in practice," said Sinclair, of Burnaby, B.C. "It was a pretty light day anyway."

Sinclair scored two goals and set up another in Canada's 4-0 win over Jamaica in the Gold Cup semifinal Wednesday. That victory also gave Canada a berth in next September's FIFA women's World Cup in China.

The Canadian captain played that game with the sore hamstring. Coach Even Pellerud took Sinclair out of the match in the second half so the injury would not be aggravated.

He's confident Sinclair will be ready to play the Americans.

"We certainly hope so," he said.

"She is normally very good at taking care of herself and nagging injuries. Based on the fact she was OK Wednesday, I'm optimistic."

Also missing practice was defender Randee Hermus. The Langley, B.C., native was sore from Wednesday's game and was given the day to rest.

Canada has a 3-31-3 record in games against the U.S. Canada's last win over the U.S. was a 3-1 decision on Nov. 11, 2000.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Players In The News
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Player of the Week: Christine Sinclair
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2640

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Christine Sinclair

Christine Sinclair has the hopes of Canada pinned on her shoulders. The 23-year old Canadian captain recently finished a seven-week fitness stage at the women’s national team’s residency camp in Vancouver. Like her teammates in camp, she is preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007.

The hopes from her nation end with a gold medal at China 2007, which would be a first for Canada in any FIFA event. Four years removed from a fourth-place finish at the 2003 finals, Canada is a stronger and more experience squad. In 2006 when the team qualified after a 4:0 win over Jamaica, Christine was the leader with a pair of goals in the victory.

Christine is in her eighth season with the women’s national team. She made her debut in 2000 as a 16-year old starter against China in the Algarve Cup. Her debut also coincided with Even Pellerud’s Canadian team coaching debut.

Through 2006, Sinclair has played in 90 games at the senior level plus another 15 at the youth level (en route and at the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championships in Canada). In her 105 matches, she has hit the back of the net in 53 matches, a mark topped only by former national team captain Charmaine Hooper (54). In 2006, Sinclair was named the Canadian Player of the Year (women’s) for the second-straight season. She was also named Sport BC’s Amateur Athlete of the Year.