Canada Soccer – Canada Soccer has named the 20 players who will represent Canada at the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship in Trinidad and Tobago, which serves as the qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018 held later in the year.
 
The tournament running from 17 January to 28 January will see Canada, drawn into Group A, play Costa Rica, Haiti and hosts Trinidad & Tobago. 
 
“Our main objective will be to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to ensure this group will again experience major tournaments, but we have also set some goals in terms of how we want to play and how we want to represent Canada as a team,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer Women’s U-20 Head Coach and Women’s National EXCEL Director U15-U23. “Some of these players have had the opportunity to play with Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team so they’ve experienced the unique culture that has been created within the Women’s National Team.  Our hope is they will bring some of that experience back to this group, not only on the field tactically but also off it.”
 
Canada’s roster includes seven players who have made Canada Soccer Women’s National Team appearances, but critically it includes many players who have come up through Canada Soccer’s EXCEL system and some who have relocated to Regional EXCEL Centres where they play day-in and day-out with their national teammates.
 
“A large percentage of this group have significant tournament experiences across the U15, U17 and U20 levels, which no doubt will be crucial to the success of the team, but also their individual journey towards the Women’s National Team” said Priestman.  “There are also quite a few players that have relocated into our Regional EXCEL Super Centres and that environment where the best play with the best everyday has helped push these players forward.  This competitive daily training environment and the support of the provinces where they originate has pushed them on and has certainly aided their development, and hopefully will be a contributing result to these players doing well here at the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship.”
 
About Canada Soccer’s Women’s National EXCEL Program
Canada Soccer Women’s National 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’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 U14 to U18 players are offered a specialised daily training environment through the Regional EXCEL Program, which delivers Canada Soccer’s national curriculum year-round through a two tiered talent system, including three Super Centres streamlining Canada’s National EXCEL Players into training environments in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec from other provincial licenced Centres.
 
Canada Soccer’s EXCEL System has already produced eight Women’s National Team players, and Olympic bronze medalists in Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, Jessie Fleming, Rebecca Quinn, Janine Beckie, Shelina Zadorsky, Deanne Rose, and Gabrielle Carle.
 
CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship Trinidad & Tobago 2018 – Canada’s Match Schedule (all times local to Trinidad and Tobago in AST).

• Group Stage
  • Thursday, January 18, 2018, 16:00 Costa Rica v Canada
  • Saturday, January 20, 2018,18:30 Canada v Trinidad & Tobago 
  • Monday, January 22, 2018, 16:00 Haiti v Canada
• Friday, January 26, 2018 – Semifinals 
  • 16:00 1B v 2A
  • 18:30 1A v 2B 
• Sunday, January 28, 2018 – 3rd Place Match and Final 
  • 16:00 L13 v L14
  • 18:30 W13 v W14

 
Canada Soccer Roster: CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship Trinidad & Tobago 2018 (Alphabetical with Year of Birth, Club and Hometown)

1. Teni Akindoju, 2001, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX / Soccer Nova Scotia REX Program / Dunbrack Soccer Club, Halifax, NS
2. Maya Antoine, 2001, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX / Vaughan Soccer Club (League1 Ontario), Vaughan, ON
3. Tanya Boychuk, 2000, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex, Burnaby, BC / FC Edmonton Girls REX, Edmonton, AB
4. Gabrielle Carle, 1998, Florida State University (NCAA), Lévis, QC
5. Ashley Cathro, 2000, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX, Victoria, BC
6. Malikae Dayes, 1999, University of Maryland, Brampton, ON
7. Jessica De Filippo, 2001, Quebec REX / Lakeshore SC, Saint-Lazare, QC
8. Shana Flynn, 2000, Unionville-Milliken SC (League1 Ontario), Brampton, ON
9. Rylee Foster, 1998, West Virginia University (NCAA), Cambridge, ON (GK)
10. Julia Grosso, 2000, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX, Vancouver, BC
11. Jordyn Huitema, 2001, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX, Chilliwack, BC
12. Nadège L’Espérance, 1999, University of Louisville (NCAA), Candiac, QC
13. Jessica Lisi, 1998, University of Memphis (NCAA), Woodbridge, ON
14. Lysianne Proulx, 1999, Syracuse University (NCAA), Boucherville, QC (GK)
15. Emma Regan, 2000, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX, Burnaby, BC
16. Jayde Riviere, 2001, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX / Markham Soccer Club, Pickering, ON
17. Caitlin Shaw, 2001, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX, Coquitlam, BC
18. Sarah Stratigakis, 1999, University of Michigan (NCAA), Woodbridge, ON
19. Hannah Taylor, 1999, University of Oregon (NCAA), Edmonds, WA
20. Ariel Young, 2001, Ottawa Fury, Ottawa, ON

MEDIA CONTACTS
CONTACTS MÉDIAS

Brad Fougere

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

Richard Scott
Men’s National Teams Program | Programme de l’équipe nationale masculine
rscott@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.818.0305

Carrie Croft
Women’s National Teams Program | Programme de l’équipe nationale féminine
ccroft@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.406.4986