Rhian Wilkinson's Official Website

SOCCER MEDIA REPORTS:

RHIAN WILKINSON A THREAT FOR CANADA

16th November, 2006

From a CP Report by Jim Morris RICHMOND, B.C. (CP) - Tenacity and speed have always been a big part of Rhian Wilkinson's game.

Now Wilkinson has added maturity to her impressive skills with the National Women's Soccer Team. Wilkinson's play-making and take-no-prisoners style during the recent Peace Queen Cup tournament in South Korea earned the Baie D'Urfe, Que., native praise from National Team coaches and teammates.

The progression of her game has been a welcome sign as coach Even Pellerud prepares the team for next week's Gold Cup tournament in California.

"She has always been a work force for us on the right flank," Pellerud said Wednesday, as the national team practised indoors to escape howling winds and a cold, driving rain.

"This time she also created much more than she used to in terms of getting free kicks, getting cross balls and getting corner kicks. She was much more composed on the ball."

Christine Sinclair, who led the tournament scoring with six goals, has seen Wilkinson's evolution.

"Every game she is improving," said Sinclair, who scored several of her goals off setups from Wilkinson and Martina Franko. "She's taking more risks. She created so many goals for us.

"She's just a workhorse. She never stops running. She is so fast and can blow by anyone."

Canada will face either Panama or Jamaica in Wednesday's Gold Cup semifinal game in Carson, Calif. The winner will advance to the Gold Cup final and automatically qualify for next summer's women's World Cup in China.

Wilkinson, who saw limited playing time in the 2003 World Cup where Canada finished fourth, said she's grown more comfortable with her game.

"I'm more relaxed, more aware of the game," said the 24-year-old forward. "It's the subtle things, where you should be, how to play with a certain person."

She's also said Pellerud gave her the chance to develop.

"I have been very fortunate people have been very patient and willing to give me the time to settle down and play my own game," said Wilkinson.

At five foot five and 146 pounds, Wilkinson doesn't intimidate, but looks can be deceiving. She has speed to burn, can turn on a dime and knows no fear.

"She's an incredibly tenacious player," said national team veteran Andrea Neil. "She goes into tackles that other players shy away from.

"She's deceivingly fast. I think defenders don't think that much of her."

Wilkinson scored a goal in Canada's 4-2 win over Brazil that put Canada into the final at the Peace Cup tournament. The Canadians lost 1-0 to the U.S. in the championship game.

Wilkinson said have Sinclair for a teammate makes everyone look good.

"Nine times out of ten, if not 10 times out of 10, she'll score that goal," said Wilkinson. "If you get her the ball, she'll score. And she will give you the ball where you can score."

The bond between Sinclair and Wilkinson extends off the pitch. They share an apartment in Vancouver as part of the National Team's residency program.

Funded by Greg Kerfoot, the millionaire owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps, the program pays national team players a salary while living in Vancouver and training for the World Cup and possibly the 2008 Olympics.

Wilkinson, who played with the Ottawa Fury of the W-League this year, said living and training together has made the national team stronger.

"Before you were with your team back home, then you'd come in for a few weeks," she said. "The friendships you make off the field, when you are living together, are different."

Sinclair said the residency program allows players to relax and hone their talents.

"Before we would be together for a week, and if you didn't do well in the first couple of practices, you might not play," she said. "Here you have time.

"You can have a bad practice and make up for it later. I think that has helped a lot with Rhian and everyone on the team."

Wilkinson began playing soccer when she was five years old. She attended the University of Tennessee and in 2005 played with Strommen FK in Norway where she helped the team to finish second in the Premier League.