FC Gold Pride announced today that the team has agreed to terms with WPS free-agent Candace Chapman (Canada) for the 2010 season.

"We're very happy to welcome Candace to the Pride," said FC Gold Pride Head Coach Albertin Montoya. "Candace brings experience, skill and leadership to the team.  She's a technically advanced player with exceptional pace and is very strong in the air. She's proven herself at the highest levels of competition both in the WPS and internationally.  I'm confident she will have an immediate and positive impact on the way we play."

Chapman spent the 2009 season in Boston after being added to the Breakers' roster as an International Discovery Player in January.   The Ajax, Ontario, Canada native appeared in 11 games, racking up 697 minutes of playing time in the Breakers' midfield and defensive lines.
The Canadian national has been a member of the Women's Senior National Team since 2002.  Since then she has earned 65 caps and scored five goals on the international stage.  Most recently she helped Canada to a quarterfinal appearance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"I'm so happy to have Candace on our team," said Canadian National Team Captain and FC Gold Pride teammate Christine Sinclair. "Over the past three years, she has been one of the MVPs on the [Canadian] National Team.  She is the rock of our back four and is going to help the Pride immensely.  She can control the backline, she's fast, a great communicator and can help organize for us.  I know she will add a lot to our team."

Chapman was a standout member of Notre Dame's Women's Soccer team from 2001-2005.  During that time she helped her team to post-season appearances in each of the four years she played which also included a National Championship in 2004 and a College Cup quarterfinal appearance in 2005. Despite playing three seasons as a defender, she finished her collegiate career with 20 goals and 24 assists for 64 points.

In addition to competing with the Canadian National Team, following her collegiate career, Chapman played in the W-League for the Vancouver Whitecaps.  She also served as a coach at the University of Missouri in 2008 where she helped guide the Mizzou Tigers to a school record, 16-5-2 season.

Chapman will become the Pride's third International to be signed to a contract for 2010.  She joins Japanese forward Eriko Arakawa and fellow Canadian, former Vancouver Whitecaps (W-League) teammate and WPS All-Star, Christine Sinclair.