April 2, 2003

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The 2003 Women’s Soccer International Showcase kicked off Wednesday night at Notre Dame’s Alumni Field, with a festive crowd treated to a 2-2 draw between the Mexican National Team and the Canadian Under-19 squad.

The three-day tournament continues on Friday night, with the University of Michigan facing the Canadian under-19 at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Notre Dame-Mexico game at approximately 7:30. Saturday’s action gets underway at 5:00 p.m. (Michigan-Mexico), with the ND-Canada game capping the tournament.

In Wednesday’s game, Mexico’s Desiree Flint opened the scoring in the 13th minute on a well-placed 20-yard strike from outside the top of the box, with her leftfooted shot slanting inside the near right post for the 1-0 lead (12:18).

Notre Dame freshman Katie Thorlakson – who helped lead Canada to the final game of last summer’s Under-19 World Championship – lobbed a shot over the Mexican keeper six minutes later (18:21) to tie the game and Canada then took the lead early in the second half (51:55), when Josee Belanger redirected Brittany Timko’s corner-kick header. Veronique Maranda set the play in motion with her leftside corner kick, with Timko then flicking a header across the goalmouth and Belanger volleying home the goal.

Mexico scored the equalizer on a penalty kick in the 89th minute, with Flint sending the ball into the upper left corner for the 2-2 final. The PK was set up after Canada was whistled for a hard foul in the box on a leftside corner.

Canada held a decisive 19-8 shot edge but Pamela Alonso came up with 10 saves to keep Mexico in the game. Canada’s ‘keeper Taryn Swiatek also played a key role in the final score, stopping a pair of breakaway chances late in the second half (with one of her teammates also sweeping a rebound try off the goalline).

Canada Under-19 Team 1 1 – 2

Mexico National Team 1 1 – 2

MEX 1. Desiree Flint (Elizabeth Gomez) 12:18.

CAN 1. Katie Thorlakson (-) 18:21.

CAN 2. Josee Belanger (Brittany Timko, Veronique Maranda) 51:55.

MEX 2. Flint (PK) 88:21.

Shots: CAN 7-12-19, MEX 2-6-8.

Corner Kicks: CAN 0-3-3, MEX 0-3-3.

Saves: CAN 3 (Taryn Swiatek 2, team 1), MEX 10 (Pamela Alonso).

Fouls: CAN 20, MEX 5.

Offsides: CAN 3, MEX 1.

Yellow Card: Maranda (MEX) 66:28.