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TORONTO - Christina Julien is one of a select few Canadians whose soccer skills led them to Russia. Veteran defender Ante Jazic spent time with Kuban Krasnodar before signing with the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy. And some prospects like Joseph Dichiara have earned contracts. Juliens club ties to WFC Rossiyanka stand out on a Canadian national team whose players are largely spread around the National Womens Soccer League in the U.S. "Its been an experience, thats for sure," the 25-year-old from Cornwall, Ont., said with a smile. "Theres been a lot of ups and downs. "Its such a privilege to be able to go to Russia and live there and just experience their lifestyle. You take the good with the bad, you get that experience while youre there." Julien, an alternate with the Canadian team at the London Olympics, is back in camp with Canada preparing for Sundays soldout friendly with the U.S. at BMO Field in Toronto. Its the first time the two North American rivals have met since the top-ranked Americans defeated No. 7 Canada 4-3 after extra time in last years thrilling Olympic semifinal. Julien is clearly up for anything, as per her Twitter bio: "Olympian, Team Canada Soccer #10, Professional Athlete, World Traveller, & Lover. Who knows?" That sense of adventure landed her in Russia in March, after being at the Cyprus Cup with Canada. Her agent got her a tryout at the club, which was looking to beef up its roster ahead of the quarter-finals of the Womens Champions League. Julien had been sidelined by injury so she was looking to get back in action. She went to Russia and impressed the club, earning a contract. Julien saw action in eight games including both legs of the 4-1 aggregate loss to Germanys Wolfsburg, which went on to win the final 1-0 over Frances Lyon. Rossiyankas roster was global with internationals from Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa among other countries. Deep-pocketed owners were willing to pay for talent. "Its really good football," said Julien. "They were training on a daily basis." The team was based about 45 minutes outside Moscow — "or three hours with traffic," she said with a laugh. Julien lived in the Russian capital and loved it. "I was blown away," she aid. "No expectations going in. Its one of the most gorgeous cities Ive ever seen." Language was an issue. Few people speak English, so Julien learned a few Russian words to get by. Her Russian team has three games left in its season, but two are taking place while shes on duty with Canada so Julien isnt sure if she will be back. Her next goal is to play in France when the season starts later this summer. Previously she had played for Jitex BK in Gotenborg, Sweden, and the Ottawa Fury. Julien was forced to look outside of North America after she was not one of the Canadian internationals allocated to the NWSL. "Its really hard to get in there if youre not allocated," she said. Overseas, clubs tend to take care of room and board, with whatever they pay you basically becoming spending money, according to Julien. The 2012 Olympics were bittersweet for Julien, who as an alternate got to experience everything but play. "I was very lucky to be there," she said. "But on the other hand I wanted to be playing. You have that dream." Julien, a member of Canadas 2011 World Cup squad, lost her spot to Jonelle Filigno, who missed qualifying through injury. "Probably the hardest decision to make was Christina Julien, coach John Herdman said at the time. "Shes been a big part of the team, helped us through the qualifiers, played nearly every game in my tenure. He called it a "football decision, saying Filigno "showed that little bit more. "Ive got no doubt that Christina will come back fighting and this will be a great learning curve for her, he said. Named an Olympic alternate, Julien didnt get a bronze medal, which prompted her family and the local paper back home to raise a ruckus. "Theyve going to have my back no matter what happens," she said proudly of Cornwall. "Cornwalls awesome, a great city." She got an imitation medal when the Canadian team was honoured at a Toronto FC game after the Olympics. "I felt good about that," she said. "It was nice of them." Yan Gomes Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Trea Turner Jersey . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. https://www.cheapnationals.com/137r-michael-a-taylor-jersey-nationals.html .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Wilmer Difo Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Fernando Rodney Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. NEW YORK -- Sure, the New York Mets have to face Madison Bumgarner in the National League wild-card game Wednesday.Well, Mets manager Terry Collins noted, the San Francisco Giants have to face Noah Syndergaard. So they should have their hands full, too.Syndergaard (2.60) finished third in the majors in ERA, followed by Bumgarner (2.74) at fourth.Its the big leagues. Youre going to face great pitching in the postseason, Collins said. I know theyre in their clubhouse saying, Wow, weve got to face Syndergaard. It should be a great game. ... Theyre a great team. They had a rough second half. Everybody knows that. But theyre very talented. I know theyre probably banged up a little bit like we are.Syndergaard originally was slated to start Sundays game against the Philadelphia Phillies if it turned out to be meaningful, but instead he threw a bullpen session at Citizens Bank Park and focused on preparing for Wednesday.Syndergaard and Bumgarner squared off at Citi Field on May 1 in a 6-1 victory by the Giants. Syndergaard allowed four runs in 5? innings and surrendered a two-run homer to Hunter Pence in that game, while Bumgarner tossed six scoreless innings.Syndergaard rebounded to toss eight scoreless innings in a 2-0 win against the Giants on Aug. 21 at AT&T Park. Bumgarner allowed four runs -- all on a grand slam by the now-injured Justin Ruggiano -- in five innings in a no-decision earlier in that series. Bumgarner also homered against Jacob deGrom in that game.Its funky. [Bumgarner] is stepping at you and coming from behind you, Mets infielder Kelly Johnson said of the left-handers delivery. ... The man can pitch. Hes almost like a DH in the lineup, too. So weve got to worry about that. His track record speaks for itself.I dont think I have to sit here and talk about how good he is. Its going to be a tough game. Its going to be fun. I think being at Citi Field -- for us, winning the home field -- cant be stressed enough because thats a big swing in advantage for us, [and] not having to travel across the country, too.ddddddddddddSaid Collins: If you get balls to hit, you better hit them. Because if you let him get ahead of you, youre in trouble.The Mets revived their season during that mid-August series at San Francisco.After losing the opening two games at AT&T Park, the Mets had dropped to 60-62 and had fallen 5? games behind the Cardinals for the second wild-card spot. However, Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera returned from the disabled list during that series and the Mets took off, winning the final two games in San Francisco and ultimately going 27-13 to close the regular season.Cespedes had three homers in the two games he played against the Giants in that series.The Mets have posted the best record in the majors since Aug. 20, buoyed not only by Cespedes and Cabreras returns but by the performances of rookie right-handers Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman.We started to get our pieces back. Theres no question, Collins said, reflecting on the series in San Francisco. We knew we had to hold it together while they were out, and we did. We didnt win as many as we wanted, but we still competed. And when we started getting our pieces back, we knew we were going to be OK. Those young pitchers really helped us finish it off.Cespedes right quadriceps continues to nag him, although he minimized the injury Sunday.I think after I came back, the whole team collectively started to improve, Cespedes said through an interpreter. And I think thats why we are where were at now. I feel good. I think Im ready physically and Im ready mentally. Thats the most important thing. ' ' '