Stephanie Labbe: Guess who’s back?
Well, today was officially the first day back between the pipes today with my gloves on since I tore my PCL three and a half weeks ago! The fact that I am moving the way I am, with no feeling of pain or weakness still amazes me. Back on May 1, when I suffered my injury, naturally, I NEVER thought I would be doing as much as I am at this time. Since I woke up on May 2, I had a goal to be back for World Cup, and I haven’t looked back once. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe: Just believe …
For the first time in my life, I have been faced with an injury that has kept me out of play for longer than a week and a half. On May 1, in our game vs Kristianstad, I suffered a knee injury 25 minutes into the game. I did everything I could to keep playing, but two corners and five minutes later, I had to come out. It was no longer possible for me to continue, and it was only fair to the rest of the team. I got an MRI, and I am just waiting on our doctor to confirm the results before announcing it, but what I can say is this is something I am determined to fight through, and I wont let it hold me back. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe: Canadian teammates/friends visit Piteå
After the game in Stockholm with my three great Canadian friends/biggest fans
It has been a very interesting week here in Piteå. Something I never thought would happen happened! My double lives collided, head on! The Canadian team has been on break for the past week and a half, and fortunately for me, three of my close friends from the team decided Sweden was where they wanted to spend their break! Carmelina, Kaylyn, and Marie-Eve hopped on the plane and began their trip to the north. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe: The “double life” of a national team keeper
Since the end of the 2009 Damallsvenskan season, we, Piteå IF, have been looking forward to our first game back in the Damallsvenskan. We had a very successful 2009, winning Division 1, and earning our spot back in the top league. It was a year of very hard work, but it paid off, and our moment is here. We had our first game back in the league on Wednesday vs. Linköping, away. They finished among the top of the table last year, and were recently knocked out of the Champions League in the semifinal. They are a strong, fast, talented team, that we knew would be very tough, not only from their recent successes, but from playing them two years ago. (more…)
Newly promoted Piteå come back to tie Linköping in Damallsvenskan opener
After falling behind in the 26th minute on a goal by Linköping forward and Finland international Linda Sällström Wednesday night, Piteå managed to stage a late comeback to pull level courtesy of an own goal by Linköping’s Nora Holstad Berge of Norway. The tie against the 2009 Damallsvenskan champions earned Piteå its first point in the top-flight league in two years. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe Video Blog: When in Rome Part 2
This is part two of Stephanie Labbe’s video blog from Rome. She continues her tour of Italy with some of her Canadian teammates, and even drops by a Serie A game with keeper Karina LeBlanc. Marie-Eve Nault provides the footage again. Enjoy part two, and if you missed it click here for part one.
Stephanie Labbe Video Blog: When in Rome Part 1
Stephanie Labbe checks in from Rome where the Canadian Women’s National Team is currently training. She takes us on a tour of Italy with some of her Canadian teammates, including Carmelina Moscato and Karina LeBlanc, while Marie-Eve Nault makes her directorial debut behind the camera. Here’s part one of Stephanie’s video blog.
Stephanie Labbe: My life in Piteå!
Piteå "downtown"
Since returning last week from Holland, where I had met up with my Swedish club, Piteå, I have finally had the chance to settle back into my little niche here. It is so great to be with my team and bonding and hanging out with them. It is hard being away for so long, as you gain a lot with one team, but then miss out on some with another. Sometimes I feel like I am living a double life! Either way, its been great to be back, and play some friendly games in our gear up for the start of the season!
This past weekend, we played two games, the first against a Norwegian club, Trondheim, in which we won 3-1. We played well and created many chances offensively. The second game was against Umeå IK. It was a hard-fought game both ways, ending in a 3-3 tie. PKs were done to ultimately give Umeå the win on the sixth shooter. It was a tough loss, but some really positive things coming out of the game for us! (more…)
Stephanie Labbe: From Cyprus Cup to Sweden
Living out of a bag is really starting to get old! Its been six and a half years since I last lived at home, and I have attempted throughout the years to keep my life packed into 3-4 bags. Not ideal. But that’s the price I have to pay for having the job I have, and doing what I love. Speaking of doing what I love, a lot has happened in the past week and a half since I last blogged. We (Canadian National Team) made it to the Cyprus Cup final, meeting Holland. The last time we met Holland was in December in the Brazil Four Nations Tournament. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe delivers music video and more from Cyprus
Can the Canadian Women’s Team Dance?!?! My vote is yes … without a doubt. Some of our moves may be a little less, um, coordinated, but there is definitely some hidden talent on this team! About a week ago, Carmelina received a little dance/singing video from a few of the USA players who are in Portugal for the Algarve. They of course wanted a response. So, the Canadians we are, of course we not only had to respond, but we took it up a “few” notches and blew their video out of the water, not that it was a competition. But I think we may have turned it into one! (more…)
When in Rome
Shopping=my weakness. OK, I have many weaknesses, like chocolate, candy, new clothes, and possibly even watches. Unfortunately for my bank account, on our day off in Rome, I indulged in some of these weaknesses. “When in Rome, right?” After many hard days of testing, training, and workouts, we were rewarded with a day off. Some girls on the team stayed back to do some rehab/treatments for injuries and knocks, and some of us went into the city to explore a little, and of course shop. We are girls, what do you expect right? (more…)
Stephanie Labbe talks Valentine’s Day, fitness testing, and foam rollers
Happy Valentines Day!
Typically on Valentine’s Day I would want to wake up to a nice box of chocolates, or candy, or maybe even flowers and a card … but not this year, not today. OK, I wont lie, I did get some chocolates and candy and a card, but that’s a secret … OK, not anymore, but it was! This year for Valentine’s Day, I woke up with my Canadian team to weigh-ins, fat testing, strength testing, and fitness testing. (more…)
Fiona O’Sullivan, Jennifer Nobis, Stephanie Labbe lead Pitea
Fiona O’Sullivan (center) celebrates one of her four goals with teammate Jennifer Nobis (photo by Camilla Berglund)
Pitea IF got four goals from Fiona O’Sullivan, three goals and two assists from Jennifer Nobis, and a shutout by Canadian keeper Stephanie Labbe in Friday’s 9-0 win over Lulea DFC, and Nobis added one more in Pitea’s 3-1 win Saturday over Sunnanå. If Pitea, promoted this year to Damallsvenskan, beats Umeå IK Sunday, the team will win the Allstar Midwinter Cup. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe returns from China and returns with another blog
Canadian keeper Stephanie Labbe landed back home after her team’s flight to Canada from China following the Four Nations Tournament. Labbe and the Canadian Women’s National Team finished with a 2-1 record in China. On the final day of the tournament, Labbe and Canada shut out Sweden, 1-0. (more…)
The U.S. wins Four Nations Tournament in China
It all came down to the final day of the Four Nations Tournament in Chongqing, China to decide a champion, and with the U.S. Women’s National Team’s 2-0 victory over China, the U.S. won the tournament. Canada beat Sweden, 1-0, earlier in the day, so it came down to tiebreakers as both teams were tied for first place with 2-1 records. The first tiebreaker was initially goal difference, followed by goals scored, and then head-to-head, but that was changed prior to the tournament, according to U.S. Soccer. Head-to-head was the first tiebreaker, and since the U.S. beat Canada, the U.S. was crowned tournament champions. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe and Marie-Eve Nault check in again from China
Canadian Women’s National Team defender Marie-Eve Nault and keeper Stephanie Labbe return with their second blogs from the Four Nations Tournament in Chongqing, China. Canada, Sweden, China, and the U.S. all play Monday in the final day of competition and all four teams have a shot at winning the tournament. Here’s more from Stephanie and Marie-Eve. (more…)
Canada’s Stephanie Labbe and Marie-Eve Nault blog from China
Canadian Women’s National Team keeper Stephanie Labbe and defender Marie-Eve Nault will be checking in from Chongqing, China during the Four Nations Tournament. Labbe will blog in English, Nault in French. They wrote their first entries prior to their game against the U.S. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe and Carmelina Moscato talk about teammate Kara Lang’s retirement from soccer
Canadian Women’s National Team forward/midfielder Kara Lang will announce her retirement from women’s soccer Wednesday in Ontario. The Canadian Soccer Association has set a press conference for Wednesday morning where Lang will make the official announcement. Lang has been plagued by knee injuries, suffering ligament tears in the same knee in 2006 and 2009. Lang had an impressive career with the Canadian National Team, one in which she made 92 appearances and scored 34 goals in nine years. Some of Lang’s teammates talked about her retirement. (more…)
Canada crowned champions of Torneio Internacional de São Paulo
By Beto Alfaya
In front of an attendance of 18,326, Canada became Torneio Internacional de São Paulo champions with a 2-2 draw against Brazil. Canada won on goal differential. Brazil started the game without Cristiane and Grazielle, both injured, so the young 17-year-old Thais started the game, her first with the national team, while Canada had back its entire team. (more…)
Canada and Brazil play to scoreless draw at the Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo
Canada and Brazil had already qualified for the finals of the Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo after each team beat Mexico and the Netherlands, but before they meet up in Sunday’s final, the two faced each other Wednesday night in the final game of the first round. (more…)
Canada, Brazil open with wins at Torneio Internacional Cidade de Sao Paulo
By Beto Alfaya
Torneio Internacional Cidade de Sao Paulo opened today in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The four-team tournament features Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands, and Mexico. Canada began the tournament with a 5-0 win over the Netherlands. Christine Sinclair, who signed today with the Western New York Flash of Women’s Professional Soccer, scored two goals for Canada as did Diana Matheson (Lillestrøm SK Kvinner). Josee Belanger (Amiral de Québec) also scored for Canada, and keeper Stephanie Labbe (Pitea) earned the shutout. Diamond Simpson, recently called up from the Canadian U-18 camp, earned her first international cap. (more…)
