Canada Soccer – Canada kicked off with a 3:0 win over Bermuda at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship. Jayde Riviere scored the winner in the first half and Kaila Novak added a brace in the second half as Canada opened with three points in Managua, Nicaragua.

CANADA 3:0 BERMUDA : MATCH CENTRE & PHOTOS

Canada will next face Costa Rica on 22 April with the match kicking off at 17.30 local / 19.30 ET / 16.30 PT. In addition, exclusive behind-the scenes content and post-match commentary are available on Canada Soccer’s digital channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.
 
“To get three goals in the opening match sets us on our way and starts the tournament off well,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National EXCEL Director U-15 to U-23. “It was a match of two halves: they really frustrated us with a deep block in the first half, but we sorted things out and really took it to them in the second half.”
 
The eight-nation competition provides an important development step on the pathway to the Women’s National Team and future FIFA Women’s World Cups and Olympic Football Tournaments. Canada’s first goal in the tournament will be to advance beyond the group phase.
 
“The next two matches will be against familiar opponents in Costa Rica and USA,” said Priestman. “We have to recover and prepare well for Costa Rica. We need to prepare to get three points in the next game and just take it one match at a time.”
 
The 2018 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship runs 19 to 29 April at the Estadio Nacional de Fútbol de Nicaragua. Group A (19, 21, 23 April) features Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico while Group B (20, 22, 24 April) features Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, and USA.
 
CANADA SOCCER’S WOMEN’S EXCEL PROGRAM
Canada Soccer’s Women’s EXCEL Program brings together the best with the best at the national youth level, throughout each year. Operating across the U-14 to U-20 age groups, the program is designed to deliver an aligned talent structure and system that progresses more top players to Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team. Major competitions which are viewed as staging posts to assess development, allows for the development of the Women’s EXCEL Team Playing Model and tournament processes and expertise, ultimately preparing players for when they do progress up the system.
 
Additionally, the most talented U-14 to U-18 players are offered a specialised daily training environment through the Regional EXCEL Program, which is delivers Canada Soccer’s national curriculum year-round through a two-tiered talent system, with three Super Centres streamlining Canada Soccer’s EXCEL players into training environments in British Columbia, Ontario and Québec from the smaller provincial-licensed centres.
 
Since 2002, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Teams have won four Concacaf titles: the 2004 and 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 CONCACAF Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Canada have qualified for seven editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all five editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
 
CANADA SOCCER’S WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM IN HAMILTON
Canadian soccer fans are encouraged to watch Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team live in Hamilton, Ontario on 10 June at Tim Hortons Field. The Sunday afternoon match features Canada’s Olympic bronze medalists against the Rio 2016 Olympic champions Germany. Tickets to the international match start as low as $20 (plus applicable fees) and fans can once again take advantage of a special ‘Me+3’ offer in select sections.
 
For complete ticket information visit canadasoccer.com/tickets.

Brad Fougere
Corporate Communications | Gestionnaire, Communications corporatives
bfougere@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.299.1587