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Abbotsford's Sophie Schmidt named to Women's World Cup squad

Schmidt, who has 131 appearances for Canada, was named to the Women's National Team 23-woman roster Monday.
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Abbotsford's Sophie Schmidt has been named to Canada's Women's National Team for the upcoming Women's World Cup.

Abbotsford's Sophie Schmidt will wear red and white on home turf at this year's Women's World Cup after being named to the 23-woman national team roster Monday.

Schmidt's inclusion in the squad is no surprise, as the 26-year-old W.J. Mouat grad has suited up for Canada 131 times over the past five years. Schmidt was a key member of Canada's bronze medal-winning squad at the 2012 Olympic Games, starting every game for the team.

The roster was named Monday at a special event in downtown Vancouver.

"The 23 players we've chosen today will represent our country with pride and honour," said head coach John Herdman. The squad will once again be captained by Christine Sinclair.

Earlier this month, Schmidt told the News that she was excited for the tournament, but also had some nerves.

"It's so close, you kind of want it just to start," she said.

Canada is ranked eighth in the world heading into the tournament.

Schmidt has been living in Vancouver with the team as it prepares for the World Cup, which will be the largest soccer tournament ever hosted in Canada. The tournament will take place at venues across the country, with the final being played July 5 at BC Place in Vancouver, a quick walk from the national team's living quarters.

"Canada wants us to do real well and we want to do well, and it's a matter of going out there and putting in a good performance in," she said.

The World Cup includes 24 teams and kicks off June 6. Games will be played in six cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal Moncton. Canada will play its first two group-stage games in Edmonton and its third in Montreal.

If Canada finishes top in its pool, they would play a Round of 16 game June 21 in Vancouver.