Canada Soccer has released the Women’s National Team roster ahead of two matches against Costa Rica on 8 June in Winnipeg and 11 June in Toronto. The June matches will mark the first meetings between Olympic Bronze Medalist Canada, ranked fifth in the world by FIFA, and upcoming CONCACAF rival Costa Rica since the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in February 2016, which secured Canada’s spot at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
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\u200bCosta Rica is a team that has increased its competitive edge over the past few years, becoming a real threat in the CONCACAF region. In the 2016 Olympic qualification match, remembered mostly for Christine Sinclair’s juggling highlight-reel goal from the top of the box, Costa Rica kept Canada at bay for most of the first half, defending deep and denying any effort to break through. Sinclair led the way with goals on either side of the break. Sinclair’s brace was briefly cut in half by a Raquel Rodríguez penalty, but later complemented by a Deanne Rose insurance goal towards the end of the memorable 3:1 win.
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\u200b“It’s great to be back in Canada and the players are really looking forward to this series against Costa Rica,” said Head Coach John Herdman. “They have two world class players in Raquel Rodriguez (Sky Blue FC) and Shirley Cruz (Paris Saint Germain) and as a team they’ve been improving over the years. It’s important that our team are continually exposed to CONCACAF opponents, who offer a very different challenge to what we’ve just experienced in Europe with Germany and Sweden. With the critical upcoming 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, which is the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 qualification tournament, we will draw on this experience in our planning and preparation.”
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\u200bWith many of the Rio 2016 stars set to return to the pitch in Canada including Captain Christine Sinclair, Canada’s preliminary roster is stocked with world-class talent. Fans in Winnipeg will welcome home two-time Olympic Bronze Medalist Desiree Scott, while fans from the Toronto area will get the chance to cheer on southern Ontario locals Rebecca Quinn, Kailen Sheridan, Lindsay Agnew, Allysha Chapman, Ashley Lawrence, Kadeisha Buchanan, Shelina Zadorsky, Jessie Fleming, Nichelle Prince, Deanne Rose, and Adriana Leon.
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\u200bCanada last played in Winnipeg in 2014 against the USA resulting in a 1:1 draw. Kadeisha Buchanan gave the raucous crowd something to cheer about as she opened the scoring in the first half before the Americans tied the game with fifteen minutes to go to draw 1:1.
\u200bToronto fans last saw Canada in action against Brazil as part of the Road to Rio series in June 2016 as Canada prepared for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Canada fell to Brazil in that match 0:2 but came back and defeated them 1:0 in Ottawa three days later, and then 2:1 when it mattered most in the Bronze Medal Match of the Rio Olympic Games.
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\u200bAt the upcoming Toronto match, Canada Soccer will honour Women’s National Team players Josée Bélanger and Kaylyn Kyle, who announced their retirement from international play earlier this month. Additional retirement announcements are expected prior to the 11 June home match, and fans will have the opportunity to celebrate these players in Toronto as well.
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\u200bCanada Soccer’s Women’s National Team earned the honour of being the first Canadian team to win back-to-back Summer Olympic medals since 1908, and the first-ever women’s Canadian team to repeat on the Summer Olympic podium, when it captured bronze this past summer. With an eye to continue as Canada’s most successful summer Olympic team, the team is now focusing on the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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\u200bCanada Soccer Women’s National Team v Costa Rica Roster (by position)
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\u200bGK Stephanie Labbé, age 30, from Edmonton, AB/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
\u200bGK Sabrina D’Angelo, age 24, from Welland, ON/ North Carolina Courage (NWSL)
\u200bGK Kailen Sheridan, age 21, from Whitby, ON/ Sky Blue FC (NWSL)
\u200bFB Lindsay Agnew, age 22, from Kingston, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
\u200bFB Allysha Chapman, age 28, from Courtice, ON/ Boston Breakers (NWSL)
\u200bFB Ashley Lawrence, age 21, from Caledon, ON/ Paris St-Germain FC (Division 1 Féminine)
\u200bCB Shannon Woeller, age 27, from Vancouver, BC/ FF USV Jena (Bundesliga)
\u200bCB Kadeisha Buchanan, age 21, from Brampton, ON/ FCF Olympique Lyonnais (Division 1 Féminine)
\u200bCB Shelina Zadorsky, age 24, from London, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
\u200bM Jessie Fleming, age 19, from London, ON/ UCLA (NCAA)
\u200bM Rebecca Quinn, age 21, from Toronto, ON/ Duke University (NCAA)
\u200bM Sophie Schmidt, age 28, from Abbotsford, BC/ FFC Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
\u200bM Desiree Scott, age 29, from Winnipeg, MB/ FC Kansas City (NWSL)
\u200bF Nichelle Prince, age 22, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
\u200bF Deanne Rose, age 18, from Alliston, ON/ Scarborough GS United
\u200bF Adriana Leon, age 24, from King City, ON/ Boston Breakers (NWSL)
\u200bF Jordyn Huitema, age 16, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX
\u200bF Janine Beckie, age 22, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
\u200bF Christine Sinclair, age 33, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns FC (NWSL)
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\u200bAdditional Roster Notes:
\u200bTickets to Winnipeg and Toronto June Matches
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\u200bIndividual tickets to the Canada v Costa Rica matches are on sale via Ticketmaster.ca and by phone at 1.855.985.5000 ( Buy Winnipeg | Buy Toronto). With tickets for Winnipeg starting at $25 and for Toronto at just $20 in (plus applicable fees), fans will also be able to take advantage of a special ‘Me+3’ offer in select sections for both matches, by purchasing three tickets in the eligible price category, fans will receive the fourth free. Groups of 10 or more are eligible to receive up to 30% off regularly priced tickets. Canadian Supporters have been allocated a few dedicated sections at both matches, fans wishing to sit in the Canadian supporter sections are encouraged to visit the Voyageurs website for more information and to purchase tickets through thevoyageurs.org. For complete ticket information and to place group ticket requests, visit the event information pages ( Winnipeg | Toronto).