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RHIAN'S SOCCER JOURNALS:

CYPRUS CUP GAME DAY 1 5th March 2008

Game days are never very action packed for the National Women's squad. They have much more to do with each of us focusing and preparing more than anything else.

Other than focus, I did very little all morning, other than revise and proof read D’s thesis. I did watch a 1941 black and white movie called, "How Green was my Valley." It took me back to my ancestral Welsh roots, and I enjoyed it.. I had purchased the movie after seeing the Oscars this year, when I think this film came up in a clip. The novel by Richard Llewellyn, on which the film is based, is one of my favorite books of all time.

We won the opening game of the Tournament against Russia by 2-1. There was a vicious and unpredictable wind, but we did not play well. We improved in the second half, but the first half was terrible. We did not not play our style of soccer at all. Part of this was due to the wind, but this is only partly an excuse. I personally had a rough first 45 minutes, and was very pleased not to be replaced at the half. I was moved from defense into the midfield and I played better here. In fact, I feel that the whole team really pulled up their socks and played better in this half. Thank goodness.

Big congratulations to Julie Armstrong on scoring her first international goal, as well as to Kara Lang, for getting the game winner. I also thought that Diana and Chappy had good games throughout the entire 90 minutes.

CANADA DEFEATS RUSSIA 2 -1 5th March 2008 From CSA Report

Canada’s Women’s National Team won their first match at the Cyprus Cup, a 2:1 victory over Russia in a windy match in Paralimni, Cyprus. Forwards Julie Armstrong and Kara Lang scored Canada’s two goals en route to the victory.

Teenager Julie Armstrong, who started the match up front in between Kara Lang and Christine Sinclair, opened the scoring in the eighth minute with her first goal in a Canadian uniform. Just 10 minutes later, though, the Russians got some lucky bounces after a gust of wind - yes, the wind - helped blow the ball in the air in their direction. Natalia Barbachina evened the score 1-1.

In the second half, Canada continued to dominate play and continued to create some good scoring chances. In the 50th minute, Candace Chapman made a throw-in to Rhian Wilkinson who then beat a defender and made a short pass to Lang. Lang beat the Russian goalkeeper in the far corner.