Summer Universiade Team Canada daily recap # 1 (Aug. 11)

Aug. 11, 2011

SHENZHEN, China (CIS) – The Canadian soccer teams kicked things off in opposite fashion on Thursday afternoon as the 26th Summer Universiade officially got under way 24 hours before the opening ceremonies.

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer
2011 Summer Universiade website: http://www.sz2011.org/Universiade

While the Canadian women blanked Great Britain 2-0 in their tournament opener, the men lost 2-1 to the British and already find themselves in a precarious position in their four-team pool.

On the women’s side, Andréanne Gagné of St-Hyacinthe, Que., scored the game-winner at the 15-minute mark with a rocket from 25 yards out and Nicole Wright of Cloverdale, B.C., sealed the victory on a spectacular individual effort in the 79th minute.

Goalkeeper Rachel Bedek of St. Thomas, Ont., made several key saves to earn the shutout.
“This is an unbelievable win,” said Canadian head coach and Trinity Western University sideline boss Graham Roxburgh, whose squad was facing the defending Universiade bronze medallists. “It was a total team effort from everybody and a great start but we are in a tough group and will now focus on China.”

Canada (1-0) faces the host Chinese (1-0) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. EDT) before finishing pool play against Taiwan on Monday. China beat Taiwan 2-0 on Thursday.
In men’s action, Adrian Pena of Mississauga, Ont., scored from inside the six-yard box in the 53rd minute to tie the match at 1-1 but Great Britain’s Mark Anderson responded with the winner off a free kick 13 minutes later.

Despite constant pressure in the latter stages of the duel, the Canadians couldn’t find the equalizer.

The loss, coupled with Japan and Ghana’s 2-2 draw in the other Pool D game of opening day, puts Canada in fourth place in its group and in a must-win situation against the Japanese Sunday at 7:30 p.m. local (7:30 a.m. EDT).

“Obviously I’m disappointed with the result, but the boys played very well,” said Canada head coach Steve Hart from the University of Windsor. “I felt we regrouped well at halftime but our finishing needs to be better as we move forward in this tournament.”

Only one Canadian team is in action on Friday. Canada once again battles Great Britain, this time in women’s water polo, at 11:20 a.m. local.

The opening ceremonies at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center are scheduled for 8 p.m.

-CIS-