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Courtesy of Claudio Pasquazi; Canadian Soccer Association

For Carmelina Moscato, a midfielder/defender on the Canadian Women’s National Team, the opportunity to represent her country faded in 2006. Skip ahead a few years later and Moscato is now preparing for her second FIFA Women’s World Cup. She recently took the time to chat with All White Kit about her return to the National Team, the impact that Carolina Morace and staff have had on the team’s success, fond memories, her plans for the future and much more.

All White Kit: How do you feel the team’s preparations for the 2011 Women’s World Cup are coming along?
Carmelina Moscato: I don’t think our preparations could’ve been any better leading into this year’s World Cup. The amount of time and complete concentration put in has really been incredible by the players and staff alike. We have [two] days left and just like we’ve made every day count I know these last few are just as crucial.

The best part about our preparation is that there has been so much time put into intelligent progressions both tactically and physically. It’s come together perfectly and we are all excited to see how we do at the World Cup!

AWK: The WWC roster was recently revealed. What’s that feeling of anticipation like before any roster is announced?
CM: We’ve become a family here, so of course hearing the roster, alternates and cuts was never going to be easy. No matter who is officially on the roster, we have benefited from everyone’s energy and time here for our World Cup goals. You wish it was more than 21, but having said that we are completely happy and confident with the roster we have! We all believe in each other.

AWK: You competed at the 2002 U-19 Women’s World Cup in Canada and may represent your country at another WWC on home soil in 2015. Talk about the opportunity to play at home for such important tournaments.
CM: Regardless of if I play in the 2015 World Cup at home or not (it’s hard to say right now) I hope to be involved in some capacity. It’s actually pretty hard to think beyond one competition at a time.

In general, the opportunity for the best women’s soccer players to come to Canada is special, powerful and will only bring the game to another level. I think we’ve needed something like this for a long time and I know I don’t speak for just myself when I say we feel fortunate to host.

AWK: Your BFF, Tiffany Weimer, is currently playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Did you give her any advice before she headed up to Canada, a.k.a. the best part of North America?
CM: Yes, I told her to be easy with the Canadians and to keep her jokes to a minimum for the first while. She didn’t listen and now, well, I don’t know how many friends she’s made, haha. No, I told her to enjoy the experience and that she is lucky to be playing for one of the best professional soccer organizations in the country. She has managed to score a couple goals like she does, so I think she’s happy.

AWK: Earlier in the year when news broke of Carolina’s intended resignation along with the issue of player compensation, you spoke on behalf of the team for a variety of media appearances. How did you end up taking on that role?
CM: To be quite honest, it was a bit by default, ha. The media gigs were all in Toronto and I was the only one at home and available during one of our breaks. I’m on our player committee, so I was naturally involved with everything going on and don’t mind speaking to the media. We were all committed in what we were doing and saying, so speaking on the team’s behalf was effortless and felt like the right thing to do. I just wanted to get our story out there as accurately and sternly as possible, again, for all of us.

AWK: Can you comment on the good news that there’s since been a resolution to both issues?
CM: Carolina’s decision to stay comes as a great relief and encouragement heading into the World Cup. She has come in and changed our soccer culture and ultimately given us a chance to succeed at the highest level. Playing for her has really brought the best out of all of us and we are excited to exercise our potential at the upcoming World Cup of course, but also at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Carolina has not only brought her philosophies to the table, she has brought a world class staff that is and has been invaluable to our successes. We are lucky to have all of them on board through to 2012. Having secured Carolina through to 2012 we know we can now significantly close the gap between us and the top teams in the world. Ultimately, everything we are doing now is in preparation for the opportunity we have to host the 2015 World Cup.

AWK: Your incredibly curly hair could possibly be one of your trademarks. How do you tame your locks?
CM: Lol. I will take this as a compliment?! =) I have gone through a wide variety products, mixing products, expensive ones, cheap ones, all of the above and have FINALLY, at 27 years old, found one that works without a doubt… Tigi Catwalk Curlz Rock styling cream. I will be honest, some days this mane has a mind of its own, so I just let it be. Thanks for noticing, haha.

AWK: Speaking of hair, headbands of varying styles seem to be the rage among female athletes. Who on the team has the largest collection?
CM: Me! Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I have a huge selection of Lulu Lemon headbands. Literally every color I have at home and am able to get my hands on. It’s my thing, kind of a pre-teen thing, but whatever.

AWK: What was the most defining moment of your soccer career?
CM: I think having left the game at 23, and coming back two years later, I realized how much I loved the game and actually gained a completely new appreciation for it. I looked at training, eating, sleeping, supplements, basically everything in a completely new light. This could very well be the reason I have been able to compete at the international level again.

I’ve also really gotten to know myself: what works for me, and in the same breathe, what doesn’t work. So to answer the question, coming BACK to the game was a huge moment for me.

AWK: What was the best part of growing up in ‘Sauga? [Editor's note: that's Mississauga for everyone who's not from the Greater Toronto Area.] (Colour me shocked if you say Square One!)
CM: I’m thoroughly impressed at how you’ve not only identified one of the biggest gems of Mississauga, but that you called the place ‘Sauga. Good on you. You couldn’t be more right; Square One was a huge part of my teen mall rat days, but the best part about living there was the people I met as a result. I have a family that I grew up with, the Ragos, who are still like my second family and second home. Anywhere I’ve been it’s always been about the people I’ve meet that make the place. My family has all settled within 45 minutes of each other and that is what keeps me going back and may very well be the reason I settle down there.

AWK: Fans had the opportunity to see “Carm’s Best Dance Moves”. Which of your teammates would you have a dance off against?
CM: I know it’s going to be hard to believe, but my dance moves are completely sporadic and instinctual. I have no rhyme or reason to any movements I make to any given song and often cannot repeat the same move twice. This makes me a strong, unique and unpredictable competitor; however, there are a couple truly talented dancers on the team. Melissa Tancredi would give me a good fight. She is the real deal.

AWK: Carolina has been playing different formations over the last while. How does your role on the field change when you’re in one formation or another?
CM: I have actually slid back [from the midfield] into the center back position. As of this year, however, the defensive midfielder, who is now Sophie Schmidt, is crucial to our team’s success on the day.

The best part about Carolina’s methodologies is that she has specific movement principles both in possession and non-possession that lend themselves to all the systems we adopt. She has also brought intelligence to our game and decision making processes that are amazing in just two short years.

AWK: There was close to a three year gap between your last cap under Even Pellerud (August 22, 2006 in St. John’s against China) and your first cap under Carolina (May 25, 2009 in Toronto against the US). How did you deal with the lack of playing time while staying fit and confident?
CM: I actually retired at the ripe age of 23 and took an assistant coaching job at the University of Louisville. I was released from the program under Even and was playing W-league right after I graduated from Penn State when the opportunity to coach came along. I took it knowing that coaching was my second dream in life.

After 2 years, I somehow got my fire back and started training under the radar, almost to see how it felt. When Carolina was hired I asked for a tryout and was fortunate enough that she saw something in me. I’ve been back with the team ever since.

AWK: Aside from game tapes for scouting your opponents, do you watch much women’s soccer?
CM: I watch any game possible. I’m absolutely fascinated by the women’s game and feel like it’s my job to watch it whenever possible. To see different systems, players roles and decision making, etc. The only problem is that other than Sunday Fox Soccer WPS games that we’re not in North America to watch, there aren’t many broadcasted. Of course lately, with the World Cup around the corner, there have been many and it’s been great to see.

AWK: Canadians were incredibly invested in the Stanley Cup Finals this season because of the Vancouver Canucks. Did you keep up with the series?
CM: I’m what you could call a disgrace in this sense. I don’t really support any team in particular, other than the Toronto Maple Leafs by default, and actually don’t know all the rules of the sport. As for my teammates from the west coast, that’s a different story. They actually woke up in the middle of the night, 2:30am here, to watch as much of the final as they could stay up for. I was impressed by their patriotic ways and commitment to the ‘Nucks. I was sleeping though, haha.

AWK: The CanWNT has been getting some great results lately as evident in the team’s rise to #6 in the world. Are there any moments, matches or tournaments that stand out in your mind for a particular reason?
CM: There are always going to be a couple turning points during a journey this powerful and eventful. For me, some of these include winning the 2009 Cyprus Cup. At that point in the program we knew we were collectively getting better, but I don’t think “winning” was even in our vocabulary. With deliberate hard work and focus, slowly but surely momentum took over and we kept getting better with each game. We had our low points of course, but they all served there purpose for the “end result”, which is an overall more talented team.

Two other notables for our program were our performance at the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers where we did not concede a goal and scored 17, as well as 2 convincing performances to tie #3 ranked Brazil at their home tournament in December.

AWK: I recall that the CanWNT was helping to raise money for Right to Play a few years ago. Are you personally involved with any programs/initiatives at the moment?
CM: This is a part of my life and involvement with the sport that I would like to increase my efforts in. I think we have a unique opportunity to give back to communities both locally and globally, so it’s our duty to become involved. I plan to do this and will let you know who, where, what and when =)

AWK: You’ve known some of your teammates for a very long time, since you were wee ones. What are some of your fondest memories of growing up with them?
CM: I love this question because it makes me realize how many memories come from off the field experiences. We of course train, battle and grow on the field everyday, but my friendships on this team have grown away from the field during the hours of travel, down time, experiences in different countries and difficult moments. We all know each other so, so well and this of course lends itself to success on the field. We fight for each other and protect each other whenever possible. This is a strong group both on and off the field and we feel fortunate to have been able to experience so much together throughout the past 10 years.

AWK: Between the WWC and the 2012 London Olympics, do you have any soccer plans outside of the national team?
CM: I think we all have the national team as our priority knowing now what that time and dedication can produce, so definitely training well and taking care of my body are my top priorities.

There is a lot more to life and having already left the game once, I realize this more than ever. I’m beginning to prepare for my life after soccer so I have signed up to take some strength and conditioning courses and add to my continuing education toolbox. My best friend, Rosa Rago (mentioned earlier) and I are planning on opening up a studio/gym together in the near future, so I’m always working towards that.

AWK: I really liked Rhian’s answer to this question, so I’ll direct it to you as well: how are you as a roommate?
CM: For starters I have OCD, so I’m orderly (to say the least), neat and very particular with my things. My shoes have to be in line and my clothes need to be folded. I room with Erin McLeod so I feel like she would answer this question best, but I would say I’m a heavy sleeper so she feels confident being up and about and not disturbing me. I also wake up early and have a shower, get my computer, go to breakfast and catch up on emails, read articles and stay up-to-date on life in North America, ha. I’m a morning person so have lots of energy right off the bat. I think that’s good for now! =)

A huge thank you to Carmelina for taking part in the Q&A.; It’s great to see her suiting up for Canada once again!

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