Canada takes home silver at 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship

Canada has earned second place at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship falling 0:2 to the United States in the Final. Canada secured their place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ France 2019 with their 7-0 victory over Panama in the Semi-Final after a strong tournament run with 24 goals and only three conceded throughout the tournament.
 
The United States scored early in the 2’ minute after a clearance attempt fell to Rose Lavelle. Alex Morgan scored her seventh goal of the tournament to put the USA up 2-0 in the 88’ after a late corner kick earning Morgan the tournament’s Golden Boot and securing the victory for the US.

“I was definitely pleased with the majority of our play but letting in a goal that early was definitely not part of the plan and I think that the team bounced back well,” said Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Head Coach.  “I’m confident looking forward as I think we created chances and that in those opportunities we just need to make the final pass and we will be rewarded.  We definitely put in a solid performance.”
 
Canada had two chances to draw even in the match with Captain Christine Sinclair coming close late in the first half. Kadeisha Buchanan had the best opportunity on a set piece in the second half with American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher making a diving stop off Buchanan’s header to keep it 1:0.
 
“We grew throughout the tournament and our number one objective coming in was to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, so we did that,” said Ashley Lawrence. “I think we’ve learned so much, we’re going to take those learnings going into the World Cup™ next year.”
 
Heading into the Final, Adriana Leon and the USA’s Alex Morgan were tied for the Golden Boot award with six goals apiece. Jordyn Huitema, Christine Sinclair and the USA’s Tobin Heath were tied at four each.
 
Leon was a half-time substitute taking off Nichelle Prince. Diana Matheson came in at 75’ for Allysha Chapman. Canada’s final substitution saw Jordyn Huitema replace Janine Beckie in the 88’.
 
Canada, the USA and Jamaica have all qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ with  Jamaica earning the third spot by defeating Panama on penalties in the third place match.  The Official Draw for France 2019 will take place in Paris on 8 December 2018.
 
With ten months to go until the next edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ since Canada lasted hosted in 2015, the team will use the experience of the Concacaf Women’s Championship to assess its tournament readiness, especially its strength at adapting to quick turn around times between matches, and will be further developing strategies leading in to 2019.
 
Fans can follow Canada’s journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ through exclusive behind-the scenes content and post-match commentary on Canada Soccer’s digital channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
 
Fans of the women’s game can also find additional information and stories on FIFA’s Women’s World Cup™ channels on Twitter and Facebook.
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team 
Canada are two-time Olympic bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016) and two-time CONCACAF champions (1998 and 2010). In all, Canada will have participated in seven consecutive editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (1995 to 2019) and three consecutive editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2016). At Rio 2016, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team were the first Canadian Olympic team to win back-to-back medals at a summer Olympic Games in more than a century and the only FIFA Member Association to repeat on the podium.
 
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team have previously made six FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances and qualified five times (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011) as Canada hosted the record breaking 2015 edition where 1,353,506 fans attended matches, setting a new total attendance record for a FIFA competition other than the FIFA World Cup™.  The highest attended match of the tournament was 54,027 for the Canada vs. England quarter-final in Vancouver.
Canada Soccer 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship Roster
Head Coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller
 
GK – Stephanie Labbe, age 32, from Stony Plain, AB/ Lejonflocken Linköping (Damallsvenskan)
GK – Kailen Sheridan, age 23, from Whitby, ON/Sky Blue FC (NWSL)
FB – Lindsay Agnew, age 23, from Kingston, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
FB – Allysha Chapman, age 29, from Courtice, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
FB – Ashley Lawrence, age 23, from Caledon, ON/Paris Saint Germain (Division 1 Féminine France)
FB – Emma Regan, age 18, from Burnaby, BC/ The University of Texas at Austin (NCAA)
CB – Kadeisha Buchanan, age 22, from Brampton, ON/ Olympique Lyonnais (Division 1 Féminine France)
CB – Shelina Zadorsky, age 25, from London, ON/ Orlando Pride (NWSL)
M/CB –  Rebecca Quinn, age 23, from Toronto, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
M – Jessie Fleming, age 20, from London, ON/UCLA (NCAA)
M – Julia Grosso, age 18, from Vancouver, BC / The University of Texas at Austin (NCAA)
M –  Diana Matheson, age 34, from Oakville, ON/Utah Royals FC (NWSL)
M- Sophie Schmidt, age 30, from Abbotsford, BC/ FFC Frankfurt (Frauen-Bundesliga)
M- Gabrielle Carle, age 20, from Levis, QC/ Florida State University (NCAA)
F- Jordyn Huitema, age 17, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)
F – Adriana Leon, age 26, from King City, ON/ Seattle Reign FC (NWSL)
F – Nichelle Prince, age 23, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
F – Deanne Rose, age 19, from Alliston, ON/ University of Florida Gators (NCAA)
F – Christine Sinclair (C ), age 35, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns (NWSL)
F – Janine Beckie, age 24, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Manchester City (FA Women’s Super League)
 Additional information:

• The average age of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team roster at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship is 24 years of age.
• Stephanie Labbé, Gabrielle Carle and Adriana Leon celebrated birthdays during the competition.
• Canada’s roster included five teenagers at the outset in Jordyn Huitema (17), Julia Grosso (18), Emma Regan (18), Gabrielle Carle (19 – now 20) and Deanne Rose (19).  Both Carle and Rose were members of Canada’s Rio 2016 Olympic Bronze Medal winning squad.
• Christine Sinclair has the most appearances (274) for Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team, while Emma Regan made her first appearance during the competition.
• Three members of the squad have over 100 appearances for Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team (Sinclair, Matheson, Schmidt), while both Sinclair (274) and Matheson (201) have 200 or over appearances.  Matheson made her 200^th appearance for Canada during the tournament in the Semi-Final match.
• Sinclair is the highest goal scorer on the squad, and second all-time for FIFA, with 177 international goals.  Sinclair trails retired US player Abby Wambach, the current record holder with 184, by 7 goals.  Sinclair needs 8 goals to set the world record for most international goals ever for men and women.

Past Concacaf Women’s Championship goals

• Canada scored 24 goals, and let in three, in the most recent Concacaf Women’s tournament, the 2016 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifier in Texas which qualified Canada for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where the team captured it second consecutive Olympic Bronze Medal.

• Prince, Quinn and Lawrence each recorded three-goal games at the 2016 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifier
• Sinclair scored two goals in the Semi-Final against Costa Rica to clinch Canada’s spot in Rio.

Other recent Concacaf information

• Jordyn Huitema took home the Golden Boot at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Tournament, netting 5 goals for Canada.

About Canada Soccer
Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io