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OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2011 39Lang set to debut behind the micBy Herb GarbuttCanada faces defending champion Germany, Lang dis-OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFcussed what shes been up to since she retired, why the Argos and Ticats should keep her on speed dial, and For years, Oakvilles Kara Lang thrilled Canadian what sport she wouldnt mind jumping into headlong.soccer fans. (TheBeaver's questions are in bold, while Lang'sShe burst on to the scene by making her senior responses are in italics.)national team debut at the Algrave Cup when she was just 15 years old. Two days later, she scored against Well start with a prediction for Canada.Wales to become the youngest player to ever score a I truly believe Canada can go all the way to thegoal in international competition.final. I truly believe that.Lang would go on to compile an impressive interna-If they lose, will fans in Vancouver riot?tional resume, helping Canada to some of its best-ever I dont think so. That would not be part of my pre-results reaching the final at the U19 world champion-diction.ships and a fourth-place finish at the Womens World To get you ready for your job as analyst, give us a Cup all while she was still a high school student at St. breakdown on Diana Mathesons game.I don't think it'sThomas Aquinas.Diana is really a workhorse for the Canadiandemoralizing. We In college she led UCLA to the national final, only to team. Shes unbelievably fit. She can run end to end knew who we'd be beaten by Portland and Canadian teammate Christine but at the same time, shes extremely technical. Sheshave to play andSinclair in the final.got great vision and they are going to funnel a lot of Lang would go on to play in two Womens World balls through her. There will be a link between her we knew we'd Cups and the 2008 Olympics. However, after a second and Christine Sinclair and shes going to set up a lothave to beat serious knee injury, she was forced to retire earlier this of important goals.Akwesasne on our year. Though just 24 years old when she played her As an analyst, youre going to be commenting on a own merits.final game, Lang ranks fourth in scoring for the team that you were part of until six months ago. Do national team with 34 goals.you have to be careful what you say? Oakville Buzz Now, as the Canadian team enters the Womens Obviously I have to be conscious of being objec-coach Sam RookWorld Cup with high hopes despite the loss of one of its tive. In my heart, I want to cheer for the team, mymost dynamic scorers, Lang will be taking on a new best friends, but at the same time I have to look at role for the tournament. She will be a studio analyst for the game objectively.Rogers Sportsnet, working alongside Craig Forrest and Speaking of being careful about what you say, you Gerry Dobson for a nightly half-hour wrap-up of the once said you would like to see (75-year-old FIFA days games.president) Sepp Blatter in hot pants. Do you really Lang believes the Canadian squad has great poten-think anyone wants to see that?OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTOtial but promises to remain objective. Though she No. I just thought if he thought we should be wont necessarily be singing the teams praises, she wearing them, then maybe he should be too.ANALYZE THIS:Kara Lang, pictured addressing the media at her retire-definitely wont be singing.Since youve retired, have you done any of the fol-ment press conference earlier this year, will be working as a studio analyst on See Lang, page 40With the tournament starting on Sunday when Rogers Sportsnet's coverage of this year's Women's World Cup.Buzz coach sees positives in not having home-floor advantageBy Jon KuiperijI dont think its demoralizing, Rook said. We knew over the Buzz for fourth spot.BEAVER SPORTS EDITORwho wed have to play and we knew wed have to beat Although Akwesasne has home-floor advantage, the series Akwesasne on our own merits. I think were still capable of will begin tomorrow (Saturday) in Oakville. Due to the dis-A loss on the final day of the regular season prevented the doing that.tance between the two clubs, the Buzz will host the first two Oakville Buzz from enjoying home-floor advantage in the Oakville entered Tuesdays regular-season finale in games of the series before the Lightning is home to the next first round of the playoffs.Newmarket needing a win or a tie, or an Akwesasne loss or three games (if necessary) next weekend near Cornwall.But Buzz head coach Sam Rook says his team isnt down tie, to lock up fourth place in the Eastern Conference stand-Playing the first two games at Glen Abbey Recreation as it prepares to open the Ontario Lacrosse Association junior ings and an extra home game in the best-of-five first-round Centre (Saturdays contest will begin at 8:30 p.m., with Game B postseason this weekend against the Akwesasne series. But Oakville lost 6-5 to the Saints, Akwesasne defeated 2 set for Sunday at 6 p.m.) is a bit of a silver lining to losingLightning.the Kahnawake Hunters 11-8, and the Lightning leapfrogged See Buzz, page 40