Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX forward Jordyn Huitema made history on Wednesday, becoming the first player to score for Canada’s U-17, U-20, and senior women’s national teams in one year.
Huitema found the back of the net for Canada’s U-17 women’s national team in a 3-1 loss to hosts China in the opening match of the Four Nations Tournament in Weifang, China.
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Rex midfielder Caitlin Shaw also appeared in the match, captaining the team and playing the full 90 minutes.
“We are really proud of how the team played, especially in the second half,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer National Excel Director 14-20. “In the first half the nerves were evident, especially for the players putting the Canada shirt on for the first time, so we challenged them at halftime to be brave and really get on ball a little bit more.”
“We had lots of chances in the second half, both Huitema and Jayde Riviere, who both also featured in the U20 tournament, came on and really changed the game with their experience and quality on the ball. Huitema scored an excellent goal, and could have had four or five more, having come inches of the post a few times. Overall I think we can only build on this, focusing on how we deal with pressure and the mindset of the players to bring our identity to the game. We were really happy with how the team played in the second half and we can only move forward from here.”
