Canada was terrible in the first half. Norway was even more terrible in the second.

If you didn't live through the 90 minutes, Canada Soccer has provided a fine highlights package that can help us all sleep well tonight. If you watch it, you'll see that Canada didn't lose 3-1 to the Americans Sunday night in San Jose; no, in fact we won, 1-0!

Maegan Kelly, a 25-year-old from Kansas City, who, thanks to her family ties, had the necessary paperwork to make her Canada debut, came oh so close to ending that streak Thursday night at BC Place. Kelly got into the American penalty area, then popped the ball over keeper Alyssa Naeher. The ball bounced once and headed for the far corner.

What bio-banding aims to do is to put kids together by ability and size, not age. The thinking is that the system will offer more shots to kids born late in the year, or the late bloomers who take a year or two more to elevate their games.

To say that Alison Lemon has a diverse soccer résumé would be an understatement.

On a day when Canada Soccer honoured five retiring veterans — Kaylyn Kyle, Lauren Sesselmann, Robyn Gayle, Josee Belanger and Jonelle Filigno — it was the kids who made themselves count.  Janine Beckie, age 22, had a hat trick, 16-year-old Jordyn Huitema had two and 18-year-old Deanne Rose opened the scoring.

Janine Beckie figured in on Canada’s first two goals of its 3-1 win over Costa Rica Thursday night in Winnipeg, though she didn’t end up on the scoresheet.

Even though Lawrence converted her attempt from the spot, it was Buchanan and her Lyon teammates who celebrated after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer and then a shootout that was decided by a 7-6 count.

Matheson said that she believes NWSL coming to Canada is a more reasonable choice for developing the women’s domestic game.

Both Paul Stalteri and Amy Walsh believe that Canadian soccer players — be it boys or girls, men or women — need more chances to play professionally.