Canada Soccer – Canada’s Women’s National Team will meet this month for a final training camp ahead of roster selection for February’s CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Texas, USA.

Head Coach John Herdman has called 23 players into the camp beginning January 9th and will use the this time to craft the 20 player squad Canada will field in Houston next month as the team looks to clinch a spot in the 2016 Olympic Games.

“This is really a critical phase in our preparations,” Herdman said. “We had time together in November and December, so we have a strong sense of what these players can do. This camp will be about organisation, firming up the connection between players, and striking the right balance on the pitch.”

With some tough decisions ahead, Coach Herdman knows each player coming into this January camp will be working hard to secure a spot on the team vying to win an Olympic berth, and positioning themselves for a spot on the coveted Olympic roster. Unlike the large 23 player selection teams had for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, each nation can field 20 players for Olympic qualification and only 18 for the Olympic Games.

“There will be some tough decisions,” Herdman said. “Players are coming into this camp aware selections will be made and this is part of the process, you see how players handle the increased pressure. The smaller rosters really mean we have to drill down to how players function within their positional teams, and how they connect with each other on and off the pitch. It’s honestly going to be tough to narrow down this field.”

Part of Herdman’s strategy for the Olympic qualification campaign involves striking a balance between experience and youthful pace. Canadian veterans, including Christine Sinclair, Melissa Tancredi and Erin McLeod, are joined in camp by teenagers Jessie Fleming, Kennedy Faulknor, Gabrielle Carle, Marie Levasseur and Deanne Rose.

“This is a really exciting time for us,” Herdman said as he released the camp roster. “We have a leader in Sinclair who really inspires the younger players, we have a group of experienced international stars, and a crop of young, hungry players. I’m eager to see how they come together over the next month.”

Canada, ranked 11th in the world, will begin their Olympic qualification campaign in Group B against Guyana on 11 February, before taking on Trinidad and Tobago on 14 February, and Guatemala on 16 February.

The tournament will feature eight nations divided into two groups of four, with the top two finishers in each group after round-robin play advancing to the all-important semi-finals on 19 February. The winners of the semi-finals automatically qualify for the Olympic Games and also go on to play in the final match on 21 February.

Canada’s final roster for the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament is expected to be released in the final week of January.

Players joining Canada’s Women’s National Team in camp in January 2016 include:

CANADA
GK- Sabrina D’Angelo
GK- Stephanie Labbé
GK- Erin McLeod
CB- Kadeisha Buchanan
CB- Kennedy Faulknor
CB- Rebecca Quinn
CB- Shelina Zadorsky
FB- Josée Bélanger
FB- Allysha Chapman
FB- Marie-Eve Nault
FB- Rhian Wilkinson
M- Jessie Fleming
M- Ashley Lawrence
M- Diana Matheson
M- Deanne Rose
M- Sophie Schmidt
M- Desiree Scott
F- Janine Beckie
F- Gabrielle Carle
F- Marie Levasseur
F- Nichelle Prince
F- Christine Sinclair
F- Melissa Tancredi

CANADA A-Z
Beckie, Janine | 1994 | Highlands Ranch, CO, USA | Real Colorado
Bélanger, Josée | 1986 | Coaticook, QC, CAN | Coaticook
Buchanan, Kadeisha | 1995 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brams United SC
Carle, Gabrielle | 1998 | Lévis, QC, CAN | AS Chaudière-Est
Chapman, Allysha | 1989 | Courtice, ON, CAN |
D’Angelo, Sabrina | 1993 | Welland, ON, CAN | Welland Wizards
Faulknor, Kennedy | 1999 | Markham, ON, CAN | Unionville Milliken SC
Fleming, Jessie | 1998 | London, ON, CAN | Nor’West Optimist SC
Labbé, Stephanie | 1986 | Stony Plain, AB, CAN | Spruce Grove Saints
Lawrence, Ashley | 1995 | Caledon East, ON, CAN | Brams United SC
Levasseur, Marie | 1997 | Stoneham, QC, CAN | Haute-St-Charles
Matheson, Diana | 1984 | Oakville, ON, CAN | Oakville SC
McLeod, Erin | 1983 | Edmonton & Calgary, AB, CAN | St. Albert
Nault, Marie-Eve | 1982 | Trois-Rivières, QC, CAN | Gazelles de l’Association Trifuvlien de soccer
Prince, Nichelle | 1995 | Ajax, ON, CAN | Ajax SC
Quinn, Rebecca | 1995 | Toronto, ON, CAN | North Toronto SC
Rose, Deanne | 1999 | Alliston, ON, CAN | Alliston Soccer League
Schmidt, Sophie | 1988 | Abbotsford, BC, CAN | Abbotsford
Scott, Desiree | 1987 | Winnipeg, MB, CAN | Maples Cougars
Sinclair, Christine | 1983 | Burnaby, BC, CAN | South Burnaby Metro Club Bees
Tancredi, Melissa | 1981 | Ancaster, ON, CAN | Ancaster
Wilkinson, Rhian | 1982 | Baie d’Urfé, QC, CAN | Lakeshore
Zadorsky, Shelina | 1992 | London, ON, CAN | Kitchener SC

 

Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at canadasoccer.com

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