This week's lead sports item

Julien qualifies for Olympics

By Sean Bray
News Sports editor

A realization of a dream is how Christina Julien describes her recent experience in Vancouver where she and the national women’s soccer team earned a berth at the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London, U.K.
And the Williamstown native started off the qualification tournament with a bang, scoring Canada’s opening goal at the event when she took a feed at the top of the box and blasted it past the Haitian keeper.
The marker set a tone in that contest as the red and white went on to beat the Caribbean nation 6-0, but victory came with a price as Julien knocked heads with an opposing player in the late going.
As a precaution, she sat out Canada’s second match at the tourney where Canada prevailed 2-0 over Cuba, but returned for game three versus Costa Rica sporting a protective headband.
The Canadians prevailed in that contest 5-1 to finish the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record and a +14 goals
differential.
That set the stage for a rematch against Mexico, a squad the canucks beat last year to win gold at the
CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.
This time around, the Canadians again beat the Mexicans, and with a 3-1 result were assured one of two berths at this summer’s Olympics.
All that was left to be decided was whether Canada would advance as the tourney’s gold or silver medallist.
Standing in the way of the ladies were the Americans, a team Canada has not beaten in more than a decade.
Julien certainly did her part in this one, driving to the net frequently, at times drawing from her hockey background.
If you happened to miss the game which was broadcast live on national television, the Williamstown native can be seen featured on the cbcsports website at http://t.co/AZzTWn12
In the end, Canada was blanked 4-0 by the U.S. and denied gold, but it was still time to celebrate as the ladies can look forward to competing in London this summer.
Julien took to Twitter following the match, posting “GOING TO THE FRIGGING OLYMPICS!!! Tonight my dreams came true. What an unbelievable experience. I love my team #blessed.”
Friends and supporters responded in kind, congratulating the Glengarrian on her Facebook page.
The 23-year-old is a graduate of Char-Lan District High School and James Madison University (Virginia).
She has played 37 caps for Canada.