The Canada team played well and we could have won this match, but we didn't. Robyn Gayle and Marie-Eve Nault replaced Brittany (ankle) and me (back), while midfielder Carmelina Moscato and goalkeeper Erin McLeod, replaced Jodi-Ann Robinson and Karina LeBlanc in the starting lineup from the last game.

We lost to the US again 1-0, but our play was much better than in Rochester last weekend. Even though the game started out very much the same, with us always on the back foot and trying to hang on for dear life, we grew in confidence. Before the half, we started playing our own game.

In the second period we had some amazing opportunities to take the lead. Unfortunately, we didn't capitalize. Worse, the United States scored a scrappy goal in the 89th minute which is beyond frustrating. The Americans always seem to get these cheap goals against us.

However, I think there is a great deal that we can take form the game tonight. Most importantly is how well the team's younger players did when they took the field. I think Canada has often had trouble with depth in the past, but this has obviously started to change. All the new players were good and as a veteran, I can say that I am really proud of them and how they performed.

This journal must of necessity be short, as it is already way past midnight and I am exhausted and sore. We all head home tomorrow... or to our respective quasi homes and we will cross our fingers that our budget allows us to have another camp this year. The potential on this team is awesome, but we need to practice and play together.

In the meantime, there are big games coming up for Team Strommen and I will be looking to recover in time to take part in at least some of them.