Portions Courtesy of Princeton Athletic Communications
PRINCETON -- In an eventful start to the month of April, senior Diana Matheson (Oakville, Ontario) helped guide the Canadian national soccer team to its first Olympic Games berth in the summer of 2008.
And in the local papers, the headlines will read: Le Canada Se Qualifie Pour Les Jeux Olympiques!
Wednesday night, Matheson started and played all 90 minutes for the third straight game in Canada's 1-0 semifinal victory over host Mexico in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Juarez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas. She also played from start to finish in a 6-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago and a 1-0 victory against Costa Rica in the tournament's group play.
With the semifinal win, Canada will meet Team USA Saturday in the CONCACAF final, though both squads will be headed to Beijing. The Canadian entry will be Canada’s first in 24 years and the first for the Canadian women’s program.
Women's soccer has been on the Olympic menu since 1996.
Portions Courtesy of Princeton Athletic Communications