Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Kate Sobrero Markgraf is back in action with Team USA, following the recent birth of her first child.

Kate Sobrero Markgraf recently returned as veteran leader of U.S. defense (after birth of her first child); Chapman and Tancredi on current Canada roster; Boxx and Thorlakson remain sidelined with injuries.

Nov. 26, 2006

Three former Notre Dame women's soccer players - Kate Sobrero Markgraf, Melissa Tancredi and Candace Chapman - will be in action on Sunday (Nov. 26) during the United States versus Canada game at the Gold Cup, to be shown live on Fox Soccer Channel (5:30 p.m. PST). Two other Notre Dame soccer alums - Shannon Boxx and Katie Thorlakson - currently are injured and unable to play in the Gold Cup final, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Markgraf recently returned to the U.S. team as the veteran leader of the back line, after giving birth to her first child. Chapman is listed as a defender on Canada's roster while Tancredi currently is being used as a midfielder for the Canadian side.

Both teams clinched a spot in the 2007 Women's World Cup with wins earlier in the week during the semifinals of the Gold Cup. The United States defeated Mexico while Canada posted a 4-0 win over Jamaica.

The USA and Canada will be squaring off for the second time in the past three weeks, as the teams met just 18 days ago in the championship game of the Peace Queen Cup (the U.S. won that game, 1-0, in South Korea). Team USA is riding the longest unbeaten streak (31 games) in its history and will be looking to win its fourth CONCACAF title, the final stage in World Cup qualifying.

At the time of her recent injury, Boxx was widely considered the world's top defensive midfielder in the women's game.