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11 Ontario players called to Canada Soccer's U-17 EXCEL camp

By Staff, 04/18/17, 3:30PM EDT

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Nine Ontario players came from OPDL license holders

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Canada Soccer is holding its first full development camp for the U-17 eligible group of players 17-25 April at Fortius in Burnaby, BC ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018. 11 of the players called are from Ontario and nine are from OPDL License Holder clubs.

The camp will focus on the development of this age group through the introduction of the Canada Soccer National EXCEL Curriculum, but also give Canada Soccer’s National EXCEL Director Bev Priestman and EXCEL staff an opportunity to assess the players against the Canada Soccer Positional Profiles as it continues to track young talent towards Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

“It’s exciting to bring this young talented group together properly for the first time. It’s an age group which you can really impact, not only for the short term but also long term,” said Priestman. “In recent cycles, this age group has seen players accelerate up through the system, including current National Team players Jessie Fleming and Deanne Rose, but also Jordyn Huitema who is currently still eligible for this particular group. I know the system alignment with the Women’s National Team is a real motivation to this group, something that we hope will make them push to new levels in their daily training environments.” 

The camp in Burnaby has been designed to start their National EXCEL four to six year journey and track the progress of players born 2001 and younger. Players have previously been identified through the EXCEL player development system, with preparation for the next FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2018.

“Over the last four years the quality of experience for young, talented, Canadian female players has improved immensely due to the alignment and delivery of our EXCEL system,” said Priestman. “Camps like these allow us to put best with best, and provide them with the tools and understanding to be able to bring alive the Women’s EXCEL playing model with upcoming key events in mind as benchmarking steps in their longer-term Women’s National Team journey.”

Looking ahead to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018, this age group will compete in a four nations tournament in China in July against Japan, China and the USA. In the leadup to the world cup, there will be an additional three development camps in 2018, as well as a CONCACAF tournament for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup early in the year.

Canada Soccer’s EXCEL System, designed by Women's EXCEL Program Director and Women’s National Team Head Coach John Herdman, 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, three of whom are still eligible for youth competition.

Canada Soccer Women’s National EXCEL Program brings together the best with the best at the national youth level. 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.

Canada Soccer Women’s EXCEL Camp Roster (By Name, Year Born, Club and Province)
Oluwateniola (Teni) Akindoju, 2001, Soccer Nova Scotia REX Program / Dunbrack Soccer Club, NS
Sydney Kennedy, 2001, Soccer Nova Scotia REX Program / Surburban FC, NS
Aaliyah Scott, 2001, Markham Soccer Club ON (OPDL)
Maliah De Rosario, 2001, Markham Soccer Club, ON (OPDL)
Anna Karpenko, 2002, Vaughan Soccer Club, ON (OPDL)
Maya Antoine, 2001, Vaughan Soccer Club, ON (OPDL)
Maya Ladhani, 2002, Vaughan Soccer Club, ON (OPDL)
Olivia Scott, 2001, Aurora Youth Soccer Club, ON (OPDL)
Serita Thurton, 2002, FC Durham Academy, ON
Sonia Walk, 2002, North Toronto Nitros, ON (OPDL)
Taliyah Walker, 2003, Unionville Milliken Soccer Club, ON (OPDL)
Ariel Young, 2001, Ottawa Fury, ON
Isabella Hanisch, 2002, Ottawa South United Club, ON (OPDL)

Sophie Guilmette, 2001, Quebec REX / Lakeshore SC, QC
Elisabeth Tsé, 2002, Quebec REX / Phénix des Rivières de Quebec, QC
Julianne Vallerand, 2001, Quebec REX / Varennes, QC
Lara Kazandjian, 2002, Quebec REX / Lakeshore SC, QC
Audrey Chelsie François, 2004, Quebec REX / CS MONeuil U15 F AAA. QC
Latifah Abdu, 2001, Lakeshore U16AAA, QC
Shanice Alfred-Toker, 2001, Alberta South REX / Calgary Blizzards, AB
Andersen Williams, 2002, Alberta South REX / South West United Soccer Club, AB
Mya Jones, 2001, Alberta South REX / Calgary Foothills, AB
Stella Downing, 2002, Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX, BC
Abigail Schwartz, 2001, Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX, BC
Maya Rogers, 2003, Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX, BC
Caitlin Shaw, 2001, Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX, BC
Julia Kostecki, 2001, Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX, BC
Alyson Hay, 2001, Coastal FC, BC
Emily McCue, 2001, Vancouver Island Wave, BC