Canada kicks off final leg of Sinclair's farewell tour with rout of Australia in B.C.
CBC
Nichelle Prince scored twice as Canada thumped an experimental Australia lineup 5-0 Friday in Christine Sinclair's penultimate international game.
The 10th-ranked Canadians had their way with the 11th-ranked Matildas on a wet night. Cloe Lacasse, Simi Awujo and Adriana Leon also scored for Canada, which led 2-0 at the half in Langford, B.C.
Sinclair, the world's all-time leading scorer with 190 goals, came on in the 63rd minute for her 330th cap with Canada up 5-0.
Sinclair will call time on her international career against the same opposition Tuesday in her backyard before a crowd of 41,000-plus at B.C. Place Stadium, which is being renamed Christine Sinclair Place for the night.
A gala celebration in Sinclair's honour, complete with a performance by Dallas Smith, is planned the next night at the same venue.
WATCH | Christine Sinclair shares special pre-game ceremony with her nieces:
Canada dominated from the get-go and went ahead in the 10th minute when Prince dispossessed captain Clare Polkinghorne in the Australian penalty box and beat goalkeeper Teagan Micah with a low shot to the corner.
Prince, Leon and Vanessa Gilles had good scoring chances as the first half wore on. Prince made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute, redirecting a low Ashley Lawrence cross for her 16th goal for Canada.
It could have been 5-0 by halftime. Jordyn Huitema came on for Prince at the break.
WATCH | Prince scores twice in dominant win over Australia:
Lacasse made it 3-0 in the 49th, pilfering the ball from an Australian defender and steaming into the penalty box before beating Micah with a low shot.
Leon made it 5-0 in the 62nd minute with a header — her 31st goal for Canada — as the Australian defence was carved open again.
Sophie Schmidt, who is also bowing out Tuesday, came on late in the game for her 225th cap. Sinclair had a chance in the 71st minute but Micah got to the ball just before she did.
Gustavsson brought on more experienced players late in the game, with the outcome already decided.
Casey Stoney is ready to bring joy back to the pitch for the Canadian women's soccer team — but first, she plans to establish trust.
The human cost of recent wildfires in Los Angeles is still accruing – 24 deaths so far, and more than 12,000 homes and other buildings destroyed. Photos of burnt-out hellscapes where vibrant neighbourhoods once flourished drives the point home event further.
When the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge skate out to a packed Videotron Centre in Quebec City on Sunday, it will be the culmination of more than a year's worth of work to bring professional women's hockey to the city.
When Janine Beckie found out who the new head coach of Canada's women's soccer team would be, she felt excitement above all else. Beckie, a veteran on Canada's team, said Casey Stoney is the "perfect fit" and is encouraged by the hire.
Canadian curler Briane Harris can return to the ice immediately.
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The Ottawa Charge suffered a bit of a power outage Saturday.
Canadian men's tennis star Felix Auger-Aliassime beat American Sebastian Korda in the men's final at the Adelaide International on Saturday.
The Canadians aren't taking the Czech Republic lightly.
Canadian speed skater Isabelle Weidemann has come full circle.
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After a remarkable year for women in sport, moms and mom-to-be athletes in Canada can head into the new year confident that pregnancy will no longer lead to financial drawbacks.
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Jennifer Gardiner remembers watching the Canadian men and women win double hockey gold on home ice at the 2010 Olympics.
As the countdown to the Northern Super League kickoff hits 100 days, Diana Matheson likes what she sees.
The United States is golden again.
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