Christine Sinclair Thread

Sinclair up for FIFA World Player of the Year

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Canada's Christine Sinclair celebrates her goal. (AP '03/Nam Y. Huh)

ZURICH, Switzerland (CP) - Canadian striker Christine Sinclair is up for FIFA World Player of the Year.

The 22-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., has scored 53 goals in 71 internationals for the Canadian women's team. She plays collegiate soccer for the University of Portland where Monday she was named player of the week in the West Coast Conference for the fourth time in seven weeks.

Sinclair was one of 24 women and 30 men on FIFA's shortlists released Thursday.

"The players on this list are the best in the world and to even be considered is such a tremendous honour," Sinclair said.

"I didn't play a lot on the international stage this year, so that made it even more surprising to be recognized. I think it really is a testament to how far Canada has come in women's soccer, because if we don't climb in the rankings or perform well collectively, I wouldn't be in this position."

Canadian captain Charmaine Hooper made last year's shortlist.

Canadian women's coach Even Pellerud called Sinclair's inclusion in the list well-deserved.

"She has become a world star in my opinion," he said from Vancouver. "And she hasn't even peaked yet."

Sinclair is certainly on a roll in college play this season. She leads U.S. college players with 24 goals in 13 games and has scored in her last 14 outings for Portland (13-0-0).

"It's the best. This has been the best season by far at UP," she said from Portland. "It's been so much fun."

FIFA will announce the three male and three female finalists in late November or early December. The winners will be announced at the 15th FIFA World Player Gala on Dec. 19, at the Zurich Opera House.

Last year's winner Birgit Prinz of Germany edged out now-retired Mia Hamm and Brazilian youngster Marta.

This year's shortlist was drawn up by international experts on FIFA's different committees.

Like last year, the coaches and captains of men's and women's national teams around the world will be eligible to vote, FIFA said. They have all received the player lists and will have several weeks to submit their votes.

FIFA will also present the Presidential Award and the Fair Play Award for 2005 at the gala.

Shortlist

Shannon Boxx (U.S.), Maribel Dominguez (Mexico), Laura Georges (France), Solveig Gulbrandsen (Norway), Ho Sun Hui (South Korea), Laura Kalmari (Finland), Satu Kunnas (Finland), Renate Lingor (Germany), Hanna Ljungberg (Sweden), Hanna Marklund (Sweden), Marta (Brazil), Sandra Minnert (Germany), Portia Modise (South Africa), Malin Mostrom (Sweden), Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria), Nordby Bente (Norway), Cathrine Paaske Sorensen (Denmark), Park Eun Sun (South Korea), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Homare Sawa (Japan), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Ane Stangeland (Norway), Christine Welsh (U.S.).

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Sinclair nets hattrick

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LINCOLN, Neb. (CP) - Canadian Christine Sinclair scored three goals and added an assist as the top-ranked University of Portland defeated Iowa State 5-0 Friday in the first round of the NCAA women's soccer championship.

The Pilots (19-0-1) will play either Nebraska or Creighton on Sunday in the next round. Sinclair, a native of Burnaby, B.C., who won her third West Coast Conference Player of the Year award this week, played just 38 minutes.

Portland was up 4-0 after just 17 minutes.

"It was just one of those days when everything seemed to go in, especially in the first half," Sinclair said. "For the first 20 minutes, we were just on fire. It was just one of those days."

Sinclair, who has an NCAA-record 21 career playoff goals, is now second in NCAA Division I history with 106 goals, breaking a tie with former Pilot Tiffeny Milbrett (1990-92, 94) and North Carolina standout Mia Hamm (1989-90, 92-93).

Her 243 career points are sixth in the NCAA record book.

Sinclair has 35 goals and nine assists on the season to lead the NCAA in scoring. The NCAA Division I single-season goals record is 37, set by Lisa Cole of Southern Methodist in 1987.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe MacCarthy

Sinclair nets hattrick

This has got to help her win the FIFA Player of the Year. GOOD LUCK!

Sinclair ties single-season NCAA goals record

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LINCOLN, Neb. (CP) - Canadian Christine Sinclair scored twice, tying the Division I record for goals in a season with 37 and propelling the top-ranked University of Portland to a 3-2 win Sunday over Nebraska in the second round of the NCAA women's soccer championship.

The Pilots (20-0-1) will face Arizona in a third-round matchup next weekend. Portland beat the Wildcats 3-0 in their only regular-season meeting.

Sinclair, a native of Burnaby, B.C., who won her third West Coast Conference Player of the Year award this week, also assisted on the third Portland goal, giving her five goals and two assists in two games. The two goals extended her NCAA record for career playoff goals to 23, and moved her to within 10 goals of the all-time NCAA career record of 118 held by Danielle Fotopoulos.

Nebraska (18-8-1) became the first team this year to score two goals against the Pilots, but the Cornhuskers could not contain the nation's leading scorer. With the score tied 1-1 midway through the first half, Sinclair outraced the Cornhuskers' netminder to a loose ball and scored into the open net.

Late in the half, Sinclair raced down the right sideline and sent a cross to Natalie Budge, who tapped it in for a 3-1 lead.

"It was huge," Sinclair said of Portland's third and final goal. "I think that goal deflated them and gave us some room heading into the second half."

Sinclair up for top award

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ST. LOUIS (CP) - Christine Sinclair, who won the U.S. college soccer award last year, and four other Canadians are up for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy.

The five are among 15 finalists for the award, which goes to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America player of the year in Division I competition.

The award is regarded as U.S. college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy.

Sinclair, a senior from the University of Portland, is bidding to become only the third player to capture back-to-back Hermann Trophy awards. Mia Hamm (1992-93) and Cindy Parlow (1997-98), both of North Carolina, are the only others to achieve the feat.

The four other Canadians named finalists are: Katie Thorlakson of Langley, B.C., defender Candace Chapman of Ajax, Ont., (Notre Dame), Brittany Timko of Coquitlam, B.C., (Nebraska) and goalkeeper Erin McLeod of Vancouver (Penn State).

Sinclair, a native of Burnaby, B.C., who leads the Pilots and NCAA with 37 goals and 87 points, is also one of 24 women's players on the short list for FIFA's female player of the year.

Others in the running include last year's finalists: Heather O'Reilly of North Carolina; and Tiffany Weimer of Penn State.

The three finalists will be announced Dec. 9, with the winner to be named in St. Louis on Jan. 6.

2005 MISSOURI ATHLETIC CLUB HERMANN TROPHY WOMEN'S SEMIFINALISTS

Name

Eligibility Position

Hometown

College/University

Jen Buczkowski

Jr.

Midfielder

Elk Grove, Ill.

Notre Dame

Lori Chalupny

Sr.

Midfielder

St. Louis, Mo.

North Carolina

Candace Chapman

Sr.

Defender

Ajax, Ontario

Notre Dame

Kerri Hanks

Fr.

Forward

Allen, Texas

Notre Dame

Sarah Huffman

Sr.

Midfielder

Flower Mound, Texas Virginia

Lindsey Huie

Sr.

Midfielder

Mission Viejo, CA. Portland

Erin McLeod

Sr.

Goalkeeper

Vancouver, B.C.

Penn State

Iris Mora

Sr.

Forward

Cancun, Mexico

UCLA

Heather O'Reilly

Jr.

Forward

E. Brunswick, N.J. North Carolina

Jill Oakes

Sr.

Defender

West Hills, Calif. UCLA

Christine Sinclair Sr.

Forward

Burnaby, B.C.

Portland

Lindsay Tarpley

Sr.

Forward

Kalamazoo, Mich.

North Carolina

Katie Thorlakson

Sr.

Forward

Langley, B.C.

Notre Dame

Brittany Timko

Jr.

Midfielder

Coquitlam, B.C.

Nebraska

Tiffany Weimer

Sr.

Forward

North Haven, Conn. Penn State

Sinclair continues assault

By NEIL DAVIDSON

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(CP) - Just 22, Canadian Christine Sinclair has already made quite a splash in the soccer world.

The forward from Burnaby, B.C., has 71 caps and 53 goals for Canada, plus 108 career goals and 248 points for the University of Portland. Sinclair is on the 24-woman shortlist for FIFA's player of the year and is in the running to defend her M.A.C. Hermann Trophy as NCAA women's player of the year.

She is also a finalist for Soccer Buzz player of the year and has been named the best player in the West Coast Conference three times. Not to mention a candidate for academic all-American honours.

The clock is winding down on Sinclair's collegiate career. The top-ranked Pilots (20-0-1) host the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats (11-7-3) on Friday in the third round of the NCAA women's championship.

Sinclair has four games left if Portland makes it to the championship game, to be held at College Station, Texas.

Provided Portland keeps winning, the Canadian can add to her mark in the NCAA record book.

Sinclair is currently tied for the NCAA single-season scoring record of 37 goals, set by Lisa Cole of Southern Methodist in 1987. Her 84 points in 2005 are 13 shy of Mia Hamm's 1992 single-season mark.

Sinclair is 10 goals short of the NCAA career record of 118 held by Danielle Fotopoulos of SMU and Florida (1994-96, '98).

Pilots coach Garrett Smith says that is the only goalscoring record she may not break.

"I guess it's still within reach," he said this week from Portland. "But if you look at all the games that she's missed for the University of Portland because of international play, those goals could have easily been amassed during that time."

The Canadian already holds the NCAA record for post-season goals (23) and leads Portland in career goals and points.

Her 248 career points are good for fourth in the NCAA record book.

Portland beat Arizona 3-0 during the regular season and Smith is feeling confident.

"We've seen the pace that they have," he said. "We feel they're going to have to deal with us and as long as we've the No. 1 goal-scorer in the country on our team, I think they've got to worry about us a lot more."

Portland started recruiting Sinclair when she was 16 and playing for Canada.

"We knew early on how special this kid was." Smith said. "Just knowing her for the last four years here at the school, there's nothing this player can't accomplish.

"Does anything surprise us? Not really. She is the best."

Records don't mean much to Sinclair, who puts team first.

"Without a doubt. Christine appreciates an assist as much as a goal," Smith said.

The local newspaper has dubbed her the most unassuming superstar you'll ever see, according to her coach.

Teams have tried everything to stop Sinclair. None has succeeded, Smith says.

One ranked team ignored offence and threw everyone in defence.

"We've seen it all. It's nothing new to Christine. ... I don't know if there is anything new that be said or done."

The Pilots roster also includes Elsa Hume, a junior forward from Victoria who has often come on as a substitute for Sinclair.

Sinclair Named Academic All-American of the Year

11/25/2005

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WALTHAM, Mass. – University of Portland senior forward Christine Sinclair (Burnaby, British Columbia) has been named the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American® of the Year for the University Division, becoming the first Pilot to ever receive the honor. The announcement came in conjunction with the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Women’s Soccer Teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The winner of the 2004 Hermann Trophy as the top college player in the nation, Sinclair leads NCAA Division I in scoring with 37 goals and 10 assists. Named as the West Coast Conference Player of the Year three times, she has led Portland to a 21-0-1 record and a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals. With 108 career goals, she is the second-leading scorer in the history of NCAA Division I women’s soccer. Sinclair is a Life Science major with a 3.75 G.P.A.

Sinclair is one of 13 scholar-athletes to be named to the Academic All-America® University Division first team.

The Academic All-America® Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA; a 2,000-member organization consisted of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.



2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Women’s Soccer Teams

University Division Academic All-America® of the Year: Christine Sinclair, University of Portland

Canuck honoured

By ANNE M. PETERSON

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C. believes that somewhere Clive Charles is smiling.

The University of Portland striker turned pensive at the thought of her former coach, who died in 2003 of cancer. It was the beloved Charles who led the Pilots to their first U.S. women's soccer national championship, back in 2002. The Pilots did it again last Sunday.

"He would have that grin," Sinclair said of Charles. "He wouldn't have to say anything."

Sinclair, the nation's leading scorer with a record 39 goals this season, arrived with her team at the city's Pioneer Courthouse Square aboard a fire truck for a ceremony Friday in their honour. Mayor Tom Potter declared it "University of Portland Women's Soccer Day."

Among those attending were Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski and Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who said the Pilots were an inspiration to athletes statewide.

"It goes far beyond just the winning of the championship," Blumenauer told the team. "You're enriching our community and changing lives across the state."

The undefeated Pilots beat Oakville, Ont.,'s Kara Lang and her UCLA Bruins 4-0 in College Station, Texas, to capture the NCAA women's soccer College Cup. In the semifinal, Sinclair's penalty kick beat Penn State after neither team could score in regulation or overtime.

"We've come back and it's right into finals," said Sinclair, the Canadian national team forward, who graduates in two weeks. "I'm sure it will start to sink in over Christmas break."

Watching the festivities was U.S. women's national team member Tiffeny Milbrett, a Portland native who played for the Pilots under Charles in the early 1990s.

"He is still around, 100 per cent," she said of her former coach. "This is his work."

Charles coached the women's team from 1989 until 2002, the year the Pilots won their first national title in any sport.

This year, the Pilots went 23-0-2 for the best season in school history.

Portland joins North Carolina and Notre Dame as the only Division I teams to have won multiple women's titles, and the Pilots join North Carolina as the only national champions with undefeated seasons.

Portland also set a new NCAA record for season attendance at 40,841 - the highest attendance ever for a men's or women's soccer team.

Sinclair, who broke the NCAA single-season record for goals, scored 110 career goals, the second most in NCAA Division I history. She finishes with an NCAA record 25 career post-season goals.

Sinclair is genuinely surprised that the city has embraced the Pilots and women's soccer. The University of Portland is a Catholic school of about 3,300 students.

"We come back to Merlo Field and we have double the fans that we have enrollment in our university," she joked.