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.
“It’s really sad to see someone of her ability and experience go, but of course these things happen,” Canadian keeper Stephanie Labbe said Tuesday. “With that being said, we couldn’t be more supportive of her decision to move on in life and pursue new desires and passions. Not only me personally, but this team as a whole is so tight knit that even when somebody moves on, although we may lose a teammate, we gain a lifelong friend.”
The 24-year-old Lang is Canada’s second all-time leading goal scorer. Lang made her last appearance for Canada during the 2010 CONCACAF qualifiers this past fall in Mexico. When she made her debut for Canada in 2002 at the age of 15, Lang became the youngest ever to play for the Canadian National Team. Lang went on to play for UCLA and later for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL W-League.
“Kara has impacted our National team on a number of different levels,” midfielder Carmelina Moscato said. “She not only gave her heart and soul to our country on the pitch since she was 15 years old, but has given her friendship and passion for life to everyone she’s met along the way. As one of my best friends and my roommate, I am of course upset to see her leave, however (I) am more proud of her for making this brave decision to tackle a new chapter in her life. She is a special person who will be successful in all she chooses to do. We all wish her the best.”