This Is the Los Angeles Sol: Karina LeBlanc

Part 5 in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2009 Los Angeles Sol.


A save. Another save.

A routine scoop, followed by a throw to a defender.

The sound of a kicked ball going upwards toward midfield, where a blend of players clad in orange and blue clamor to receive it.

15 minutes passes. 45. 60. 90. And stoppage time.

And then the final whistle.

She walks to the center of the pitch, grabs a microphone, and acknowledges 6,000-plus supporters who came for a Friday night contest between the Los Angeles Sol and Sky Blue FC.

Such is the nature of Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, one of Canada's most celebrated players guarding the net.

A member of the Canadian national team for more than a decade, and a proud product of John Walker's Nebraska Lady Cornhusker women's soccer program, the beautiful game flows through LeBlanc's veins like her uncanny knack for big stops and on-the-field leadership.

Interestingly, LeBlanc was not born in Canada. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 30, 1980.

Therefore, one can say that LeBlanc is one of North America's well-known goalkeepers, alongside other WPS keepers like St. Louis's Hope Solo, Washington's Brianna Scurry and Erin McLeod, and FC Gold Pride's Nicole Barnhart.

As a town full of talent for the round ball, one should start with the Atlanta Silverbacks, who had a successful run in the USL First Division from 1995 up until 2008, their final season. Atlanta also has a team in the Premier Development League, the Atlanta Blackhawks, who play their home games in nearby Alpharetta.

And with A-Town's WPS club beginning play next season, you can sense that the possibility of LeBlanc returning to the city she was born is on everyone's minds.

In 1997, LeBlanc began making a name for herself with the Cornhuskers, playing alongside the Boston Breakers' Christine Latham and winning Big XII championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

In a recent interview with Nebraska Cornhusker Athletics, LeBlanc recalled the atmosphere at the Nebraska Soccer Stadium.

"The environment was amazing," LeBlanc said. "For a college game, we had amazing fans. That stands out for me. We had the best teammates. Some of the people I went to school with are the best friends I have.

"We played hard for each other. The combination of the environment and fans at Nebraska were irreplaceable.”

To this day, LeBlanc owes a great deal of her success to Coach Walker.

“John has taught me so much," she said. "One thing was his ability to prepare you for the next level with his intensity in the training sessions. He always had expectations for you to push yourself. I haven’t met anyone who knows the little details and remembers them so well.

"He paid such close attention to the little details. He had an ability to make you understand the little things are what make the big things great.”

Individually, LeBlanc tallied 196 saves, to go with a 0.59 goal average and a 60-5-3 record.

After completing her storied college career, which also saw her earn All-Big XII honors in 2000, LeBlanc began her club career with the Boston Breakers, who were a part of the Women's United Soccer Association at the time. As the starting keeper for the WUSA incarnation of the team, she saw Boston finish 1st in the 2003 season to go with a semifinal appearance.

During 2005-2006, LeBlanc also played for the New Jersey Wildcats of the W-League. During those two seasons, the Wildcats finished 1st in the Northeast Division twice, and won a championship in 2005.

In 2009, LeBlanc signed with the Los Angeles Sol, and from the get-go, she put her skills to work with a 2-0 shutout of the Washington Freedom.

In 1998, LeBlanc began another new journey: playing for Big Red, managed at the time by Norway's Even Pellerud.

LeBlanc earned the first cap of her international career on July 21, 1998 against China in Montreal. Nearly a year later, LeBlanc posted her first shutout on May 24, 1999 with a 2-0 victory over Mexico.

As a part of the Canadian national team, LeBlanc can tack three FIFA World Cup appearances, an Olympic Games appearance, and top four finishes at three Pan American Games to her football curriculum vitae.

LeBlanc helped lead Canada to its best-ever finish (4th place) in 2003, an appearance in the knockout stages at Beijing 2008, a silver medal at the 2003 Pan Am Games and a bronze at the 2007 Pan Am Games. She also led the Canadian development team to a first-place finish at the 2007 International Soccer Festival in Alabama.

In 69 appearances, LeBlanc has a 35-26-8 record, with 6,033 minutes guarding the net as keeper.

Talk about being on the watch for a hundred hours. Okay, a hundred and a half, give or take a few maple leaves floating in the wind.

After the WPS 2009 season—as well as other international commitments—passes, Karina LeBlanc puts on a different hat.

When Ian Sawyers' club isn't doing New York and New Jersey proud, the Scarlet Knights take over Joe Yurcak Field. On the sidelines you can see LeBlanc as an assistant coach to Glenn Crooks women's soccer program in Piscataway, teaching the next generation of women players the same lessons she learned as a Cornhusker.

Karina LeBlanc is a goalkeeper, who, like many on the Los Angeles Sol, has built a legacy for herself and for the game she loves.

She has achieved success as a college player. She has achieved success as a member of the WUSA, W-League, and now the WPS. She is one of the most decorated goalkeepers to play for Canada. And she is teaching the next generation of WPS talent the same precepts that got her to where she is right now.

When you have a one-of-a-kind player like Karina LeBlanc leaving her mark, the future of women's soccer is pretty bright.

Better get your shades ready.