Canadian women aim for Cyprus Cup 3-peat

One month after clinching a berth for this summer’s London Olympics on home soil, the Canadian women’s soccer team is back on the pitch overseas.

Head coach John Herdman has called 26 players in for a 10-day camp, which is underway in Larnaka, Cyprus, ahead of the 12-team Cyprus Cup Feb. 28 – March 6. Herdman and his staff will select 21 players from that group as Canada attempts to defend its crown for the third consecutive year.

All 20 players that won silver at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament in Vancouver in January are in Cyprus, including team captain Christine Sinclair, veteran goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc and breakout star midfielder Desiree Scott.

Former national team members Marie-Eve Nault, Stephanie Labbé and Emily Zurrer are returning to the fold along with a trio of new faces.

Fullback Bryanna McCarthy is taking part in her first camp since Herdman took over the side in September 2011, while former national youth squad members Tiffany Cameron and Ranee Premji are attending their first senior tryout.

Canada opens the Cyprus Cup against Scotland on Feb. 28, followed by games against Italy on March 1 and Holland on March 4. The final is March 6.

Canada defeated New Zealand — Herdman’s former team — in last year’s final.

The 26 players invited to the Cyprus camp are:

Goalkeepers: Karina LeBlanc (Unattached), Erin McLeod (Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.), Stephanie Labbé (Piteå IF)

Fullbacks: Candace Chapman (Unattached), Carmelina Moscato (Piteå IF), Shannon Woeller (Rutgers University), Melanie Booth (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Robyn Gayle (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Marie-Eve Nault (Ottawa Fury), Lauren Sesselmann (Unattached), Chelsea Stewart (UCLA), Rhian Wilkinson (Lillestrøm SK Kvinner), Bryanna McCarthy (Toronto Lady Lynx), Emily Zurrer (Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.)

Midfielders: Kaylyn Kyle (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Alyscha Mottershead (Syracuse University), Kelly Parker (Unattached), Ranee Premji (University of North Carolina), Sophie Schmidt (Unattached), Desiree Scott (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Brittany Timko (Unattached)

Forwards: Chelsea Buckland (Oregon State University), Tiffany Cameron (Ohio State), Christina Julien (Jitex BK), Christine Sinclair (Unattached), Melissa Tancredi (Piteå IF)