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MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Huitema, Grosso Called up to Canada for Friendly vs. France

April 2, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release


Jordyn Huitema and Julia Grosso from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX Centre have been called up to the Canadian women's national for their April 9 friendly vs. France.

Huitema, 16, and Grosso, 17, are the two youngest players on the roster.

The match pits the world's fourth-ranked Canada against fifth-ranked France at Roazhan Park, one of the nine venues for next year's FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™.

As Canada prepares for this October's qualification phase to the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™, they are using each match of 2018 to prepare for both the Concacaf Women's Championship and next year's FIFA Women's World Cup™.

"France is definitely on their way up with some young players well engrained into the team and strong veteran players, so they are planning for the FIFA Women's World Cup they will be hosting next year and they are in good shape," said Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Head Coach of Canada Soccer's Women's National Team. "We feel this will be a very equal match and we are looking forward to getting to France and having a number of days to prepare for it."

Canada's 18-player roster for the France friendly represents a bulk of the core of Canada Soccer's women's national team and is reduced from the 23-player roster that attended the Algarve Cup tournament in March.

"All the players we are bringing to France performed very well in Portugal, so again we are bringing in four teenagers in Deanne Rose, Jessie Fleming, Jordyn Huitema and Julia Grosso," said Heiner-Møller. "It's been very uplifting to see how the young players in our EXCEL Program have been able to integrate themselves in this squad, especially from a structural perspective. Young players coming in can now step into a position on the women's national team because the positions are managed the same way through our youth program. The benefit of having that system in place is made obvious when you look at how well players like Huitema and Grosso have transitioned into the women's national team."

After Canada's match against France, it will then play Germany, ranked third in the FIFA Women's World Rankings, at home in Hamilton, ON, on June 10. Canada, the two-time Olympic Bronze Medal winners will welcome the reigning Olympic Champions to Tim Hortons Field for the Sunday afternoon match (14.00 ET / 11.00 PT).

Canada Soccer Women's National Team Roster v France

Head Coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller

GK Stephanie Labbé, age 31, from Stony Plain, AB/ Unattached

GK Erin McLeod, age 35, from St. Albert, AB/ FC Rosengård (Damallsvenskan)

FB Lindsay Agnew, age 23, from Kingston, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)

FB Allysha Chapman, age 29, from Courtice, ON/ North Carolina Courage (NWSL)

FB Ashley Lawrence, age 22, from Caledon, ON/Paris Saint German (Division 1 Feminine France)

CB Shelina Zadorsky, age 25, from London, ON/ Orlando Pride (NWSL)

CB Kadeisha Buchanan, age 22, from Brampton, ON/ Olympique Lyonnais (Division 1 Féminine France)

M/CB Rebecca Quinn, age 22, from Toronto, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)

M Desiree Scott, age 30, from Winnipeg, MB/ Utah Royals FC (NWSL)

M Sophie Schmidt, age 29, from Abbotsford, BC/ FFC Frankfurt (Frauen-Bundesliga)

M Jessie Fleming, age 19, from London, ON/UCLA (NCAA)

M Diana Matheson, age 33, from Oakville, ON/Utah Royals FC (NWSL)

M Julia Grosso, age 17, from Vancouver, BC / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)

F Christine Sinclair, age 34, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns (NWSL)

F Deanne Rose, age 19, from Alliston, ON/ University of Florida Gators (NCAA)

F Janine Beckie, age 23, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Sky Blue FC (NWSL)

F Nichelle Prince, age 23, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)

F Jordyn Huitema, age 16, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)

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