A pair of Ontario players were at the top of their game as Canada’s Women’s National Team opened the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship Texas 2016 with a 5-0 victory over Guyana at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium.

In a match that saw Canada take 30 shots on net, without a single response from Guyana, the team spent much of the match working on passing plays and crossing the ball in from the wings against a highly defensive-minded opponent. Canada held possession for 81 per cent of the game and completed 460 passes with an 89 per cent accuracy rate.

”We were going into this game looking to impose ourselves on them and make them play our style of game. I think we did that today,” said Head Coach John Herdman. “When an opposition team packs ten players into a twenty by twenty area it’s not easy, but these girls did well to score three goals in the first half and put the game to bed, so they could just enjoy it in the second.”

Deanne Rose, the 16 year old striker from Alliston, ON made her first appearance for Canada at a major senior international tournament, putting two past Guyana’s keeper. Starting alongside veterans Sinclair and Matheson on the front line, Rose was integral in building momentum as the team drove to the net again and again throughout the first half.

"I'm really excited," said Rose after the match. "I wanted to score, but it was really exciting (to get two). It's always great to score for my country.”

The GTA’s Ashley Lawrence earned player of the match honours after scoring once in the first half and opening the second with two goals in the first two minutes.

"It's a surreal feeling, and I am happy that we were able to get that performance in and start off on a good note,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence, whose three goals were her second, third and fourth at the senior international level, also expressed her excitement about the team and Rose’s debut performance.

“I think it’s great for her to get those goals and boost her confidence,” said Lawrence. “She’s been performing well in training and in previous games, so I think it’s great for us to have different players stepping up and putting the ball in the back of the net because we need that.”

Click here to read more about Herdman's thoughts on the game and find out which Canadian player achieved their 100th cap on the night