Bernier Helps Team Canada to 2007 Gold Cup Semis

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Former Orange men’s soccer star Patrice Bernier and Team Canada have advanced to the semifinals of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Canadians will take on Team USA on Thursday, June 21 at Soldier Field in Chicago in the first semifinal. Guadeloupe will face Mexico in the other semifinal match. The USA-Canada contest will be televised at 7:00 p.m. Thursday on the Fox Soccer Channel.

Bernier has started three games in the midfield for Canada, including its 3-0 win against Guatemala in the quarterfinals. He was also part of Coach Stephen Hart’s first unit versus Costa Rica and Guadeloupe during group play. Fellow Syracuse teammate Gabriel Gervais is also a member of the Team Canada roster, but hasn’t played in the tournament due to injury.

At Syracuse, Bernier was a member of the NSCAA All-Region First Team in 1999 and was a BIG EAST All-Rookie Team choice in 1998. He scored 16 points in 1998 and tallied 18 points in 1999 for a total of 34 career points. Bernier started all 38 games of his career and he ranks seventh all-time in points per game at 0.89.

Team USA, the 2005 Gold Cup champions, defeated Panama, 2-1, in the quarterfinal round to set up the showdown with its neighbor to the north. The team is led by Landon Donovan, who has 32 goals as a member of the national team, two short of tying Eric Wynalda’s U.S. record. Donovan connected on a penalty kick in the 60^th minute against Panama to help lead Team USA back to the semis. The club is coached by Bob Bradley, who took the reigns from Bruce Arena following the 2006 World Cup.

The Gold Cup is a 12-team tournament that will determine the region’s champion. The 12 squads were split into three groups. Canada went 2-1 in group play to advance to the quarterfinal round.

Syracuse University Athletics

Bernier Helps Team Canada to 2007 Gold Cup Semis

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