The Canadian Soccer Association announced on Wednesday that three Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite players are among 30 promising young women taking part in Canada’s upcoming U-14 to U-16 Women’s National Excel Camp that will be held in Burnaby, BC from August 23 to September 1, 2013.
Named to the roster are Girls Elite defender Rachel Jones and mifielders Jenna Baxter and fellow Simmrin Dhaliwal. Prior to joining the Girls Elite program, all three players developed through the BC Soccer Provincial Development Program and the National Training Centre and played in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League. Baxter most recently joined the program from Surrey United SC, while Jones and Dhaliwal enter their second seasons with Whitecaps FC after coming from Mountain United.
In addition to being the start of the national team program journey for these players, they will also have the opportunity to draw inspiration and motivation from two members of Canada’s women’s national team and Olympic bronze medalists, Diana Matheson and Whitecaps FC women’s alumnae Carmelina Moscato (pictured), who will act as technical assistants for the camp.
"I am not only excited to be chosen to work for this U-14 to U-16 camp, but honoured as I feel it is the greatest way to give back to Canadian soccer,” said veteran Canadian defender Carmelina Moscato.
“I look forward to being part of these players’ journey and hope I can add elements to their game that will allow them to play intelligent, thoughtful, and insightful soccer."
“Both Diana [Matheson] and I have acquired lots of knowledge and experiences along the way but I fully expect this group of players to be the ones teaching us a thing or two!” added Moscato.
Canada’s Women’s Excel Program (U-14/U-17) director Beverly Priestman will oversee her first camp where the players will look to impress and secure a spot in the Canadian squad that will compete in the CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship in Jamaica this October, a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying event.
“This camp is an important first step for these players in their long-term journey with us, where they will be exposed to the philosophy and curriculum of the Women’s Excel program,” said Priestman.
“The players involved in this camp will be surrounded by Women’s National Team staff and follow Women’s National Team program processes, which will help prepare them for the future. I am excited to start working with these young athletes and hopefully untap the potential of the next Christine Sinclair,” added Priestman.
CANADA
GK- Rylee Foster | CAN / Woodbridge SC
GK- Devon Kerr | CAN / Glen Shields FC
GK- Patricia Koutoulas | CAN / Brams United
GK- Lysianne Proulx | CAN / Roussillon
D- Quinn Hardstaff | CAN / Calgary Foothills
D- Catherine Levasseur | CAN / Haute St-Charles
D- Alexis Martel-Lamothe | CAN / Ottawa South United
D- Easther Mayi Kith | CAN / Laser de Joliette
D- Mika Richards | CAN / Brams United SC
D- Rachel Jones | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
D- Nadia Pestell | CAN / Brams United
D- Bianca St-Georges | CAN / Laser de Joliette
D- Sura Yekka | CAN / Brams United
M- Jenna Baxter | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
M- Anetra Byfield |
M- Simmrin Dhaliwal | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
M- Jessie Fleming | CAN / London NorWest SC
M- Sarah Kinzner | CAN / Calgary Foothills
M- Haley Kostyshyn | CAN / Burlington
M- Avery Lakeman | CAN / Edmonton Drillers
M- Karima Lemire | CAN / Varennes
M- Sarah Médéiros | CAN / Laser de Joliette
M- Sarah Stratigakis | CAN / Woodbridge SC
F- Emily Borgmann | CAN / Burlington SC
F- Gabrielle Carle | CAN / Chaudière-Est
F- Nadya Gill | CAN / Vaughan SC
F- Anyssa Ibrahim | CAN / Terrebonne
F- Marie Levasseur | CAN / Haute St-Charles
F- Jessica Lisi | CAN / Woodbridge SC
F- Marie-Mychèle Métivier | CAN / Armada Chaudière-Est
