Canada's Christine Sinclair fights for the ball against Argentina's Mariela Coronel during their match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.MARCOS BRINDICCI
Of the 99 goals she's scored over the course of her Canadian national team career, there are a couple that Christine Sinclair says she'll never forget.
There was her first, when she was just 16 years old, coming on a breakaway against Norway at the 2000 Algarve Cup.
"It's one of those things you never forget," Sinclair said. "It was kind of exciting, I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh!' "
And then there was her goal last summer in the Beijing Olympic quarter-finals that tied a drama-filled clash against the United States.
"Unfortunately we lost the game in overtime, but it was a pretty sweet feeling to tie the game up against the U.S. in the quarter-finals of the Olympics," she said.
Another memorable moment - goal No. 100 - could come Monday when the Canadians host the U.S. at BMO Field in Toronto, a game that also features the home debut of head coach Carolina Morace.
The 25-year-old striker from Burnaby, B.C., has been trying not to think of the looming milestone - but without much success.
"Coming into this camp, having players, teammates of mine remind me, and coaching staff remind me, and with one of the U.S. players (Abby Wambach) at 99 goals as well, it's kind of been pushed to the forefront," said Sinclair, who plays for FC Gold Pride of the new Women's Professional Soccer league.
The game marks the first time Canada has hosted the U.S. since the two teams played to a 2-2 draw at Toronto's Varsity Stadium in 2001. The Canadians were originally scheduled to host Japan on Monday, but the Japanese cancelled their North American tour earlier this month because of concerns over the H1N1 - swine flu - virus.
"I think for us it doesn't really matter who we play," Sinclair said. "Playing the U.S., they're our biggest rival and that's always exciting, we haven't played them at home in years, so it will be nice to play them in front of our home crowd.
"But it was disappointing not being able to play Japan, because we don't get to play them often. It would have been nice to play a different team, but we'll always play the U.S. for sure."
Canada and the U.S. have met 44 times, with the Canadians claiming just three victories against the world's No. 1-ranked country (3-37-4).
The last time the two teams met was on a rain-soaked pitch at the Beijing Olympics, where the Americans dispatched Canada with a 2-1 overtime victory in the quarter-finals.
"I know it's crossed my mind over the past few days, thinking, 'Oh my gosh, the last time we played them, they knocked us out of the Olympics,"' Sinclair said. "I'm sure a few people have thought about it, but at the same time, it's been quite some time since that game, I don't think it's going to be bad blood . . . but obviously we want to put on a show here at home."
The Canadians would also like to give Morace a win in her home debut. Morace was named Canada's head coach on Feb. 5, and led the team to two wins, a draw and a loss at the Cyprus Women's Cup.
Canadian 'keeper Karina LeBlanc is also on the brink of a career milestone - shutout No. 30. The Maple Ridge, B.C., native has 29 clean sheets, more than double her closest teammate Erin McLeod, who has 13. LeBlanc is also the longest-serving member of the Canadian team, in her 12th season.
LeBlanc has played 10 times against U.S., claiming one of Canada's three victories and two of Canada's four draws.