Cyle Larin and Ashley Lawrence named Canada Soccer Players of the Month

Cyle Larin and Ashley Lawrence have been named Canada Soccer’s Players of the Month for January 2021. Larin of Brampton, Ontario has pushed Beşiktaş JK into a title race with Fenerbahçe in the Turkish SüperLig while Ashley Lawrence of East Caledon, Ontario has kept Paris Saint-Germain in first place in France midway through the 2020-21 season.

Larin scored seven goals and two assists in eight matches across all competitions with Beşiktaş in the month of January, including a four-goal performance on 6 January against Caykur Rizespor. He scored six of his goals in Süper Lig action as Beşiktaş posted five wins, one draw and one loss and finished the month in second place in the standings, just one point back of league leaders Fenerbahçe SK. He also scored in a 1:0 win over Caykur Rizespor in the Turkish Cup Round of 16.

Lawrence featured in every minute of Paris Saint-Germain’s three January wins, two in league action and one in the Coupe de France. Now in her fifth professional season in France, Lawrence made her 100^th appearance with Paris Saint-Germain in the 23 January victory over EA Guingamp. One week later, she helped Paris Saint-Germain win 2:0 over FC Fleury 91 in the Round of 32 of the 2020-21 Coupe de France.

In January, nine Canadian players earned their first-ever call up to the Men’s National Team for a January camp in Bradenton, FL, USA. The 16-day preparatory camp kicked off a busy 2021 international season as Canada Soccer prepares for both FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying in March 2021. The nine first-time players were Tajon Buchanan, Cristián Gutiérrez, Belal Halbouni, Alistair Johnston, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Ralph Priso, Dayne St. Clair, Frank Sturing and Joel Waterman.

In the month of February, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will take part in the SheBelieves Cup with international matches against USA, Argentina and Brazil. The camp runs 6-25 February and includes first-time call ups Samantha Chang, Rylee Foster, Jordyn Listro, Bianca St-Georges and Evelyne Viens. Canada faces USA on 18 February, Argentina on 21 February and Brazil on 24 February.