Former Kahuku and University of Hawai'i star Natasha Kai was selected to the U.S. women's roster for Saturday night's soccer friendly against Canada.

Kai joins Kristine Lilly, Abby Wambach and other stars of the U.S. team, which is preparing for this year's World Cup in China.

The team also features two-time World Cup veteran Kate Markgraf and midfield anchor Shannon Boxx.

The match will mark the 39th meeting between the United States and Canada, tying Norway for the most games played against any opponent in U.S. women's national team history. Last year, the United States swept all three meetings with Canada.

On the night before Mother's Day, the Americans will wear special pink jerseys to support and promote breast cancer awareness.

Lilly, the team captain, has 121 career goals. She now plays forward after years in midfield, and joins the dangerous Wambach and midfielder Carli Lloyd as the top American attackers.

SAILING

DESAFIO ESPANOL GETS LAST SPOT IN CUP SEMIS

Desafio Espanol clinched the final place in the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup yesterday when Emirates Team New Zealand beat Victory Challenge of Sweden in the 10th flight of match racing at Valencia, Spain.

The Spanish team would have advanced with a second round-robin victory over leader BMW Oracle Racing, but the Americans controlled the race from the start to win by 55 seconds.

BMW Oracle Racing maintained its one-point advantage over Emirates Team New Zealand with the win, moving to 37 points. Both have already clinched spots in the semifinals, as has Luna Rossa.

The first-place team gets to choose its opponent for the semifinals, which run from May 14 to 24. The winner will sail against America's Cup champion Alinghi in the finals from June 23-July 4.

BRIEFLY

Steve Smith agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Carolina Panthers that will keep him with the team through the 2012 season and make him one of the five highest-paid receivers in the NFL. ... Top-ranked Roger Federer beat Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 6-4, yesterday to advance to the third round of the Rome Masters tennis tournament ... Evander Holyfield will fight Lou Savarese on June 30 in El Paso, Texas, in his quest to win another heavyweight title.