Fans will get the opportunity to see the future of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team when it faces the USA 9 November in Vancouver at BC Place.  With six teenagers named to the roster, Head Coach John Herdman is setting his sights on the future of the program and the goal of reaching number one in the world.

Twelve Ontario athletes have been called to the squad. 

“At this stage in the planning for 2019 it is a good time to provide a group of young players with the experience in preparing for and playing against the top ranked team in the world,” said Herdman on his roster selections. “We are underdogs as always going into a match against the USA, but when you have young hungry players, it brings a special quality.”

With 11 players from the 2016 Olympic Bronze Medal winning team, including two-time Olympic Bronze Medalists Christine Sinclair and Desiree Scott on the roster for the derby match, the young guns will have the support of veterans who have experience playing the USA in some of the biggest matches of their lives.

“Sinclair leadership, and experience against the US, will be a key factor in the lead up to this game as we integrate a host of new faces into the squad,” said Herdman.  “With some of our core players unavailable for selection outside FIFA windows due to league play in Europe, it will also be an opportunity for some of the younger members of our core, like Rebecca Quinn, Janine Beckie, Jessie Fleming and Shelina Zadorsky, to step up and take greater leadership roles.”

The rivalry between Canada and the USA takes its form from the fact the two teams will often face off in major competitions, including the CONCACAF Women’s Championships that qualify teams for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Olympic tournaments.  The cross-border rivalry has seen some of the most remarkable feats in women’s football, including Sinclair’s three goals in the semi-final of the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

“I don’t think we need to remind many people about London, it was a watershed moment for this team, capturing the hearts and minds of our country,” said Herdman.  “Although we’ve never beaten the USA in over 15 years, we have had some close matches with them and in our last five matches we have gone into the dressing at half time either been tied or leading the match.  There’s a feeling that with our recent performances against them we are narrowing the gap between our two teams.   As always we’ll be setting the tone for this derby match and asking both the players and the BC Place crowd to stand up and show their Canadian grit on November ninth as we push together to create another memorable moment for soccer in Canada."

Canada Soccer has released it’s top five moments from the Canada v USA rivalry in the lead up to the match, with Herdman’s and player’s reflections on those big five matches that defined the #WNTRivalry. Check out the series on Canada Soccer’s social media profiles on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
 
Canada will travel to San Jose, California for the second leg of the home and away series for the 12 November match at Avaya Stadium. 

Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Roster for USA Friendly Series (Vancouver and San Jose)
Head Coach John Herdman
GK Stephanie Labbe, age 31, from Stony Plain, AB/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
GK Sabrina D’Angelo, age 24, from Welland, ON/ North Carolina Courage (NWSL)
GK Kailen Sheridan, age 22, from Whitby, ON/ Sky Blue FC (NWSL)
FB Lindsay Agnew, age 22, from Kingston, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
FB Allysha Chapman, age 28, from Courtice, ON/ Boston Breakers (NWSL)
FB Jayde Riviere, age 16, from Markham, ON/ Markham Soccer Club (OPDL) & Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)
CB Shelina Zadorsky, age 25, from London, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
CB Rebecca Quinn, age 22, from Toronto, ON/ Duke University (NCAA)
CB Ariel Young, age 16, from Ottawa, ON/ Ottawa Fury and Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (Ontario)
M Jessie Fleming, age 19, from London, ON/UCLA (NCAA)
M Julia Grosso, age 17, from Vancouver, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)
M/FB Maegan Kelly, age 25, from Kansas City, MO & Toronto, ON/ FC Kansas City (NWSL)
M Desiree Scott, age 30, from Winnipeg, MB/ FC Kansas City (NWSL)
F Christine Sinclair, age 34, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns (NWSL)
F Janine Beckie, age 23, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
F Deanne Rose, age 18, from Alliston, ON/ University of Florida Gators (NCAA)
F Adriana Leon, age 25, from King City, ON/ Boston Breakers (NWSL)
F Nichelle Prince, age 22, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
F Jordyn Huitema, age 16, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)

It will be a clash between arch rivals when Canada hosts USA at BC Place at 19:00 PT (22:00 ET) on 9 November in the first of two matches between the North American foes, with a second match set for 12 November in San Jose, USA.  With Canada determined to reach the top of the FIFA world rankings, the battle between the world’s top ranked USA and fifth ranked Canada will be must-see matches.  Individual tickets for the match in Vancouver are on sale via Ticketmaster.ca.