Prepping for Seattle with friendly against national side

Winless Whitecaps hope to elevate game and players’ profile with match tonight against Olympic- bound Team Canada squad

Janine Frazao had a perfect seat to watch the Canadian women’s soccer team qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Frazao was among 22,954 fans packed into BC Place Stadium on Jan. 27 to watch Canada defeat a plucky Mexican side 3- 1 in the semifinal of the CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying, securing a spot for the London Games despite losing the tournament finale to the powerhouse Americans.

“The atmosphere in the stadium was just electric and it brought tears to my eyes and I wasn’t even on the field,” said Frazao, who hails from Port Moody.

“It’s a great group of girls and I’m just so happy for them making the Olympics and representing Canada to the fullest. I’ll be their No. 1 fan.”

Frazao will assume that role on July 25, when Canada opens up the Olympic tournament against the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champs from Japan.

However, tonight, she and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC women’s team will face the same Canadian national side in a friendly exhibition match at the South Surrey Athletic Park ( 5 p. m.).

“I’m so excited, it’s going to be great,” said Frazao, who capped off her 2012 Whitecaps debut with a goal in a 3- 2 loss May 13 to the Victoria Highlanders FC, following a standout season with the UBC Thunderbirds women’s soccer team in the Canada West Conference.

“Those are girls I’ve always been inspired [ by] and looked up to and it’s going to be a great opportunity to get a good run around in preparation for our game on Sunday.”

The Whitecaps are 0- 2 in W- League play this season, and will resume their regular- season schedule Sunday ( 4 p. m.) against the Seattle Sounders at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam.

But for now, all attention is being geared toward the match with the national team.

The Whitecaps endured almost two hours of rain Wednesday for their morning training at Simon Fraser University.

Making tonight’s match more interesting is that seven members of the Whitecaps are also with the national squad, which has been staying in residency in Vancouver before London, and will leave next week for Moncton, N. B. and a scheduled friendly against China PR.

“Many of the players on the national team have played for our club, including seven players on this year’s roster, so it will be fantastic to see Whitecaps past and present on the field at the same time,” said Dan Lenarduzzi, director of soccer development for Whitecaps FC, in a release.

Defenders Melanie Booth and Shannon Woeller, midfielders Kaylyn Kyle, Desiree Scott, Chelsea Stewart and Brittany Timko, and striker Chelsea Buckland are sharing time between the Whitecaps and Canada’s Olympic team.

There’s a familiarity between the players, a mutual respect and, yes, plenty of admiration. But the Whitecaps don’t want to just roll over.

“When you’re playing, you don’t really take into consideration that they’re your friends,” said Whitecaps midfielder Paige Adams, who also has experience on the national stage as a former member of Canada’s U20 team.

“You complete, you play hard, you try to win and then after the game you say ‘ hi’ and have fun, right?

“But during the game it’s all business. I expect it to be pretty competitive. It’s going to be a tough game, both physically and mentally, I think. It should be fun to see what we can do against them.”

Those seven players have been training and will play for Canada tonight.

Not only is it an opportunity for the Whitecaps to evaluate their own roster, but it could be an opportunity for some girls who may not be on the national radar to suddenly gain attention.

“We’ve got so many young players on the team, I would think any of the players that are Canadian have a great opportunity to show what they can in front of the CSA [ Canadian Soccer Association] staff,” said Whitecaps assistant coach Rich Fagan.

“It will be much faster. The college game, where most of the girls are coming from, are highpaced and is quite direct, but the level the national team players are going to be playing is going to be quite a bit faster.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun, especially for those younger players who are looking to impress.”