Boston Breakers Forward Nkem Ezurike Named to Canada's Roster for Pan American Games

June 20, 2015 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Boston Breakers News Release


HANOVER, Mass. (June 20, 2015) - On Friday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canada Soccer announced the soccer athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada in the women's tournament at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from 10 to 26 July this summer.

Boston Breakers forward Nkem Ezurike was named to the roster. The 23-year-old from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia has started three of the six games she has appeared in this season for the Breakers, registering one goal. Ezurike has been capped five times for Canada.

Canada's women's roster features some of the most exciting young players in the world, including Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, and Jessie Fleming, who are all in the Canadian squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015.

The Pan American Games have been good to Canada. The team will be coming in to defend the Gold Medal that was won four years ago in Guadalajara, which sent Canada on its way to a memorable Olympic Bronze Medal performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Since women's football made its debut in Pan American competition at the 1999 Winnipeg Games, Canada has one gold, one silver, one bronze medal, and a fourth place finish.

The team opens competition in Group B at the CIBC Hamilton Soccer Stadium on July 11 Ecuador before wrapping up play with games against Costa Rica (15 July) and Brazil (19 July).

"We are approaching this event with an Olympic depth focus and with 'the future' in mind of increasing the current and future positional threshold of Canada's Women's National Team. It is a great opportunity for these girls to gain tournament expertise against five international teams that will pose different challenges." Daniel Worthington, Head Coach, Canada's Women's Team.

Canada's women's selection (#canWNT)

Position- Name | Hometown | Club

F- Janine Beckie | Littlejohn, COL, USA | USA / Texas Tech University

D- Kadeisha Buchanan | Brampton, ON | USA / West Virginia University

F- Gabrielle Carle | Lévis, QC | CAN / AS Armada Chaudire-Est

F- Nkem Ezurike | Halifax, NS | USA / Boston Breakers

M- Emma Fletcher | Victoria, BC | USA / University of California

M- Jessie Fleming | London, ON | CAN / London Nor'West SC

M- Sarah Kinzner | Calgary, AB | CAN / Calgary Foothills SC

GK- Stephanie Labbé | Stony Plain, AB | Unattached

M- Ashley Lawrence | Toronto, ON | USA / West Virginia University

F- Marie Levasseur | Stoneham, QC | CAN / CS Haute St- Charles

D- Kinley McNicholl | Oakville, ON | USA / University of Wisconsin

D- Victoria Pickett | Barrie, ON | CAN / Glen Shields Soccer Club

F- Nichelle Prince | Ajax, ON | USA / The Ohio State University

D- Rebecca Quinn | Toronto, ON | USA / Duke University

GK - Kailen Sheridan | Whitby, ON | USA / Clemson University

D- Chelsea Stewart | Highland Ranch, CO, USA | USA / Western New York Flash

M- Danica Wu | Edmonton, AB | GER / Herdorfer

D- Shelina Zadorsky | London, ON | SWE / Vittsjö

Coaching staff

Daniel Worthington | Head Coach | Halifax, NS

John Herdman | Coach | Corsett, ENG

Simon Eaddy | Goalkeeper Coach | New Plymouth, NZL

Andrew Peat | Performance Analyst | Orewa, NZL

Kim Blake | Team Leader | Vancouver, BC

Andrew Cogliano | Team Doctor | London, ON

Patricia McBride | Lead Therapist | London, ON

Sarah Manson | Soccer Scientist | Vancouver, BC

Helen Holubec | Support Therapist | Toronto, ON



National Women's Soccer League Stories from June 20, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central