Wisconsin Soccer Central

The Canadian women's national team had to settle for second place at the Cyprus Cup for the second straight year.

The Canadian women's national team had to settle for second place at the Cyprus Cup for the second straight year.

Rachel Yankey scored in the 70th minute as England topped Canada 1-0 in the championship game Wednesday in Nicosia.

FC Kansas City's Lauren Sesselmann (Green Bay Notre Dame) and the Chicago Red Stars' Carmelina Moscato, a former University of Wisconsin assistant, started on the backline for Canada. Sesselmann logged the full 90 minutes in her 28th cap, while Moscato played 79 minutes in her 74th cap.

The Canadians have played in all six Cyprus Cup finals, winning in 2008, '10 and '11 and finishing second in 2009, '12 and '13.

Canada plays at France on April 4 in Nice and England on April 7 in Rotherham, the week before the inaugural National Women's Soccer League season starts. 

"England were the better team tonight - give them credit. We will have another opportunity against them next month in England," said Canadian coach John Herdman, whose team also has friendlies against the U.S. and Germany – ranked first and second in the FIFA world rankings – scheduled for June.

• Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) started and played 73 minutes as the Republic of Ireland fell to Finland 1-0 in the seventh-place game in Paralimni. It was the only loss of the tournament for the Irish, who allowed the lone goal in the 20th minute. "Overall, it's been a good week," said Ireland coach Sue Ronan, whose team next plays June 18 against Austria. "We came with an inexperienced squad, but they've done really well and I've got answers to a lot of questions I would have had coming out. So it's been an invaluable exercise, as well as giving the squad a badly needed confidence boost as we prepare for the World Cup qualifiers in September." Smyth, who has 22 caps, and Amazon Grimstad kick off their Toppserien season in Norway on April 13.