Labbe in, Booth out as Canada names women’s World Cup roster

Stephanie Labbe has won her race to be fit in time for the Women’s World Cup.

Labbe, who hurt her knee in Swedish league play and didn’t play in Canada’s friendlies leading up to the World Cup, was named to the women’s national-team roster on Thursday.

Rachelle Beanlands, the Ottawa-based keeper, who participated in the pre-World Cup camp, has been named as an alternate, as Labbe joins keepers Erin McLeod and Karina LeBlanc in the rotation. McLeod got the clean sheet in Canada’s last pre-World Cup friendly, a 2-0 win over North Korea.

Kelly Parker of the WSL’s Atlanta Beat, who had come into camp recovering from a foot problem, is also on the roster, which features few surprises.

Veteran Canadian-team defender Melanie Booth was dropped to the alternate squad, which would be the biggest eyebrow-raiser on the team list. Booth has been capped 49 times for Canada and played at the 2007 Women’s World Cup.

The Vancouver Whitecaps placed eight women on the roster.

Canada opens the WWC June 26 against the host Germans.

CANADA ROSTER
1- GK- Karina LeBlanc | Unattached / sans club
2- D- Emily Zurrer | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
3- M- Kelly Parker | USA / Atlanta Beat
4- M- Carmelina Moscato | Unattached / sans club
5- D- Robyn Gayle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
6- M- Kaylyn Kyle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
7- M- Rhian Wilkinson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
8- M- Diana Matheson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
9- D- Candace Chapman | USA / Western New York Flash
10- F- Christina Julien | CAN / Ottawa Fury
11- M- Desiree Scott | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
12- F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Western New York Flash
13- M- Sophie Schmidt | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
14- F- Melissa Tancredi | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
15- F- Jodi-Ann Robinson | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16- F- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Rutgers University
17- D- Brittany Timko | Unattached / sans club
18- GK- Erin McLeod | USA / magicJack
19- M- Chelsea Stewart | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
20- D- Marie-Eve Nault | CAN / Ottawa Fury
21- GK- Stephanie Labbé | SWE / Piteå IF
ALTERNATES
Beanlands, Rachelle | 1993 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Gloucester Dragons
Booth, Melanie | 1984 | Burlington, ON, CAN | Burlington YSC
Buckland, Chelsea | 1990 | North Delta, BC, CAN | Walley SA
McCalla, Brooke | 1987 | Pickering, ON, CAN | Pickering