Boycott, shmoycott.
Two weeks ago we wondered if the women's national team would even take the field in the Cyprus Cup. Now they've got three wins from three games, no goals conceded, and are set to face The Netherlands in the championship final on Wednesday.
Last year, the ladies won the Cyprus Cup final 1-0 over New Zealand on a rare goal from stalwart midfielder Diana Matheson (video at the bottom). Since then, they've played 20 matches, piling up 13 wins and 4 draws (not to mention two trophies and a World Cup berth). They've scored 41 goals and conceded 18, with the goalkeeping trio of Karina LeBlanc, Stephanie Labbe and the now-healthy Erin McLeod compiling 12 clean sheets.
In this year's tournament, they've blanked Scotland (ranked #24), Italy (#11) and, earlier today, England (#10). Now they've got the #15-ranked Dutch on tap who, as you may recall, got taken out behind the woodshed by the Canucks at last year's Four Nations Tournament in Brazil. Matheson and Christine Sinclair each had a brace in that one, with Josee Belanger also notching a goal in a 5-0 shellacking.
So I'll say something you've surely heard and hopefully come to understand by now: This team is quite f'ing good, and should be getting the wholehearted support of every soccer fan in this country (not just because they're doing well, but the success does make it easier, it's true).
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
The games aren't being shown or streamed anywhere that I know of, but the CSA is providing text updates via Twitter (which I've been subsequently retweeting, usually with stupid comments). Kickoff between Canada and The Netherlands is Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET.
Best of luck to the ladies in the pursuit of their first (and hopefully not last) trophy of 2011.
Matheson's winning goal in the 2010 Cyprus Cup final:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R80elfvE_4M
LeBlanc's reaction to winning the tournament:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNDuCvPdedg
Oh, and a final note. I no longer have any patience for the hackneyed, mindless "duh, who cares about the women's team?" comments, or any other idiotic misogyny. So if you're considering leaving such a remark, two things: 1. You're a jackass, and 2. Don't bother, because I'm just going to delete it anyway. Thanks.