MONTREAL -- The Canadian junior womens soccer team is gaining momentum at the womens under-20 World Cup. [url=https://www.cheaphawks.com/194r-bob-houbregs-jersey-hawks.html]Bob Houbregs Jersey[/url] . A 1-0 victory over North Korea on Tuesday night has put Canada into the quarter-finals feeling good

MONTREAL -- The Canadian junior womens soccer team is gaining momentum at the womens under-20 World Cup. Bob Houbregs Jersey . A 1-0 victory over North Korea on Tuesday night has put Canada into the quarter-finals feeling good about itself, even if their next opponent will be the powerhouse Germans. "We were relentless," said Janine Beckie, who was camped at the far post to put in Nichelle Princes pass in the 65th minute for the games only goal. "It feels amazing. Were moving on." Canada finished second in Group A and plays the Germans, who were first in Group B, on Saturday in Edmonton. Despite the loss, North Korea finished first in their four-team group on goal differential and will play the United States on Saturday in Toronto. The Canadians needed the win to stay ahead of Ghana, which beat Finland 2-1 in Moncton, N.B. to tie the host countrys 2-1 record. But the Africans were eliminated on goals for and against. Canada, which opened with a 1-0 loss to Ghana, looked dead in the water when it fell behind 2-0 to Finland last Saturday, but Beckie scored to ignite a three-goal second half rally. Then she scored the game-winner against the toughest opponent in the group. Penetrating the tight North Korean defence had been struggle all night as the visitors, who needed only a draw to clinch first place, allowed little space anywhere near the 18-yard box. Amandine Pierre-Louis, who got an ovation from her hometown crowd when she substituted in at the 60th minute for her first action of the tournament, started the play with a run down the right side. She crossed in for Nichelle Prince, who slipped the ball behind the defence to an unguarded Beckie at the far post. "It was going through my head: Dont miss this, so I put it in and I was really excited," said Beckie. Canada is hoping to get on the kind of roll it experienced in 2002, when a team led by Christine Sinclair made it to the final and drew a massive crowd at Edmontons Commonwealth Stadium at what was then the world U-19 championship. Germany, which crushed Brazil 5-1 just ahead of the Canada-North Korea game, will be a formidable opponent. The Germans scored 12 goals in their three group stage games. "I dont think we could be more ready," said Beckie. "Its just another team for us. "Its a great opponent. Im excited to play them, personally, but I think where were at now will keep propelling us through." A scoreless first half saw North Korea control most of the play in the first 30 minutes, but there were good chances at both ends. Only 10 minutes in, Kim Mi Gyong shot over the bar from close range, but Kailen Sheridans best save was in the 17th when after a clever buildup, Ri Kyong Hyong got in alone on the left side and blasted the ball from point blank range. Coach Andrew Olivieris side picked up the pace near the end of the half and nearly cashed in on an Emma Fletcher cross into the box. Then Ashley Lawrence placed a near-perfect high ball to the front of the net, but Beckies header was kept out by a diving save from goalkeeper Kim Chol Ok. Olivieri said the match may have been less exciting for the 13,031 fans scattered about the 55,000-seat stadium than he hoped, but said the North Korean side did what they could to slow down the play and make it a low-scoring game. But the fans that showed up were noisy and the players could feel the support from the seats. "They were crazy, it was insane," said Prince. "Especially with this huge stadium. "It was an honour to be able to play in it. The crowd was amazing." Prince said a win over a favourite like North Korea has morale high going into the quarter-finals. "It means a lot," she said. "Coming into this tournament, we wanted to inspire little girls and inspire Canada, and I think were on our route to doing that. "We still have a lot of work to do in this tournament. Were half way there. Were ready for whats to come." Centreback Kadeisha Buchanan was named player of the match. North Korea coach Hwang Yong Bong said that since his team was all-but guaranteed to advance, he wanted them to conserve energy for the next match. He had scoring star Ri Un Sim start on the bench because she had an injury in her last game. She went in two minutes into the second half. Randy Wittman Jersey . -- Derek Jeter says the New York Yankees have no choice but to move forward now that Alex Rodriguez has accepted his suspension for the 2014 season. Lou Hudson Jersey . However, Therrien added that Galchenyuks status for next Wednesdays game against the Detroit Red Wings is questionable. Galchenyuk has been out since Jan. 6 with a broken right hand. https://www.cheaphawks.com/134r-alan-henderson-jersey-hawks.html . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports.TORONTO – In each of the past two offseasons Cody Franson and the Maple Leafs disagreed on the worth of the now 26-year-old defender. Contract disputes lingered for days, weeks and months in the winter of 2012 and once more in summer of 2013 before the two sides finally compromised on an unhappy middle with a pair of one-year contracts. Franson, not surprisingly, feels he has something to prove in his third season in Toronto. "Definitely," he said in conversation with the Leaf Report on Tuesday afternoon. "Thats the way my dad raised me was live by proving people wrong, have that motivation and drive to make people that say youre not eat their words." Franson believed that hed established himself as a viable top-4 defender last season, when he broke out with 29 points in 45 games, but Dave Nonis and the Leafs management group wanted to see more. They werent sure what the Sicamous, B.C. native was (the half-season sample size undoubtedly a factor) and balked at committing the sizeable term and dollars he desired in free agency (hence the one-year deal worth $2 million). Soon to be a restricted agent once more in the summer of 2014, Franson is out to prove that hes worthy of such an investment. Entrenched with the significant role and responsibility he always wanted upon landing with the Leafs via trade from Nashville, Franson is only half-satisfied with the season hes had to date. "Its going okay, but I can do more," said Franson, who will assume top pairing duty in the absence of suspended captain Dion Phaneuf. "I feel like I can do more. I feel I can help produce more. I can be a bigger part in our group turning things around." The Leafs have stumbled into December, struggling to generate offence and adequately defend amid a stretch which has seen them win just twice in regulation in 17 games. Now without their captain and leading minute-eater for the next two games – against top teams from Los Angeles and St. Louis no less – theyll need others, Franson most prominently, to step up their game. "The challenges are bountiful as we go forward into the season," said Randy Carlyle of a year thats seen an increasing number of injuries and suspensions, "but somebody else now gets an opportunity to fill those minutes." Be it offensively or defensively, Franson feels his game could stand to rise on a number of different fronts. The scoring leader of the Toronto defence once again this season – he has 14 points – Franson is nonetheless concerned by his inability to find the back of the net. He had four goals on 70 shots in 2013, but has yet score on any of the 40 attempts hes fired so far this year. Directing more pucks on net, thus creating not only goals but rebound opportunities for teammates, will aid in the teams struggling offensive attack – the Leafs have just 23 even-strength goals during this lasting 17-game run. "Obviously not having scored a goal is in my head," he said, noting a desire to increase hiss overall offensive production. Bobby McDermott Jersey. "Its been a tough year to try and get shots through to the net and really help our forwards in that sense. Thats bothering me a bit." Amongst the best at his position in producing offence at even-strength last season – he had 16 points, tied for 12th most among NHL defenders – Franson has just three such points this season, the majority of his production coming on one of the leagues top power-plays. Because the Leafs have struggled to move the puck effectively for the better part of the opening two-plus months theyve been ineffective with a forecheck from which theyd like to initiate offence. One of their better puck-movers, Franson can help in that regard with some measure of improvement. "I havent got enough of those this year," said Franson of even-strength points, 11 of his 14 assists coming with the man advantage. "Thats something Ive been trying to focus on in getting better at and try to help our team win." Already second in ice-time among Leaf defenders – 21 minutes per game –Franson is poised to peg, if not more minutes, than more difficult minutes with Phaneuf suspended for tough tests against the Kings and Blues. He was paired with Carl Gunnarsson on the top pairing of Tuesdays practice. Though hes made strides in the right direction in Toronto, Franson remains a work in progress in the defensive zone. Part of that growth lies in his assertiveness and physicality. The 6-foot-5 defender has always been prodded to employ the requisite physical game his size is said to demand. Under the direction of Carlyle he has improved considerably. Franson actually leads all NHL defenders with 98 hits (entering Tuesdays action), quite a shift for a player who had 55 in his first 61 NHL games with Nashville. "Ive gotten better," said Franson, "but theres always room for improvement. Ive watched the video clips of myself after a lot of games and I see spots where I know I couldve at least bumped a guy there or a guy takes a shot and I was more worried about the rebound than finishing [him] into the wall. Just some things that I need to get back into the habit of doing and itll help me." Habit has also been forced to change with a steady mix of defensive partners. Unlike last season, when he played with Mark Fraser almost exclusively, Franson has shifted from partner to partner amid the teams struggles on the back-end. Gunnarsson will be the fifth partner hes been paired with already this season. The adjustment is as subtle as thinking versus reacting instinctually. "[I]t makes you think a little more and sometimes Im thinking too much and its making me read things a little slower than I should be and in turn making me not quite as aggressive as Id like to be," said Franson. "Ive got to get that down a little quicker and itll help." Such improvements will go a long ways toward proving the "naysayers" wrong while helping the Leafs turn a much-needed corner. ' ' '