Tuesday, July 16, 2002
Teen on fast track
Lang makes history in women's soccer

By MIKE KOREEN, TORONTO SUN

When Kara Lang made soccer history in Portugal on March 1, she was supposed to be sitting in a Grade 10 classroom at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Oakville.

The 15-year-old would have been more than content to sit on the bench during her first trip with the Canadian national women's soccer team, but coach Even Pellerud wanted to see what the young phenom could do.

With 15 minutes to go in a game against Scotland, Pellerud sent Lang on to the field. Lang, who was 15 years and 130 days old at the time, had no idea she was about to break American star Mia Hamm's record (15 years, 139 days) as the youngest player to play for a senior national team.

'KIND OF UNREAL'

"I thought I'd be at least 24 before getting a chance to play with the national team," the 5-foot-9 striker/midfielder said. "It was kind of unreal going to Portugal. It was my first time in Europe.

"When I stepped on the field I felt like I could die right (then). I had done everything I wanted to do."

Since then, she has done much more. Lang, who is very mature for her age, likely will earn her eighth cap with the national team tomorrow at 7 p.m., when Canada plays host to Norway in an exhibition match at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium.

During her second game with the squad at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, Lang broke another one of Hamm's record when she became the youngest player to score at the senior level March 3 against Wales. She has three goals in seven games.

"Sometimes I sit back and think what am I doing here?" said Lang, who started playing soccer at the age of five and was with an under-11 rep team when she was eight years old.

"Like when I'm playing badly and I see (teammate) Christine Sinclair popping goals like crazy, sometimes I think I'll never be able to be like that ... But then I just remember to play my game and let myself develop."

Lang's resume doesn't only include soccer accomplishments. She was a second-team Toronto Sun high school basketball all-star last year and was identified as one of the top 40 high school basketball players in Ontario.

Most impressively, Lang maintained an 82% average in school last year, despite missing 80 days.

"It's sometimes a little overwhelming," Moya Lang, Kara's mother, said. "She has got a great support system -- friends, coaches and parents -- and that keeps her grounded."

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