Kailen Sheridan named to CanWNT roster for Mexico friendlies

Sky Blue FC’s newest goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan, was invited back into the Canadian women’s national team’s (CanWNT) first training camp of 2017. Sheridan, taken by Sky Blue FC in the third round of the 2017 NWSL College Draft, has one cap with the senior national team, which she received during the group stage of the 2016 Algarve Cup, and most recently served as an alternate for the team during its bronze-medal run at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The camp, which kicked off on Friday, January 20, was a means for the team to get reoriented and condition after its five-month hiatus following the Olympics. It will also allow head coach John Herdman to evaluate newer players who only have a few caps or have come to the team via Canada’s EXCEL program.

“This training camp is an important step for us as we are at the beginning of a four-year cycle that will culminate at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so we are keen to use this time to assess both existing and new players coming up through our EXCEL development pathway,” said Head Coach John Herdman. “This camp is about introducing and evaluating those players, physically testing the core squad and creating connections both on and off the pitch.”

The 22-player roster features several NWSL stars, led by Canadian and Portland Thorns captain Christine Sinclair. It also includes three recent NWSL draftees: Sheridan, Lindsey Agnew (Washington Spirit) and Nichelle Prince (Houston Dash). Although Josee Belanger (Orlando Pride) was omitted from the initial roster, she will reportedly be joining the team in camp on January 30.

Former-Sky Blue FC midfielder Sophie Schmidt was also left off the roster as she is recovering from an injury, as is Rebecca Quinn. Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Buchanan are said to be discussing the camp with their new clubs, Olympique Lyonaiss and Paris-Saint Germain respectively. Jessie Fleming, who is currently enrolled at UCLA, may join the team for some training sessions despite not being on the camp roster.

The camp concludes with an international friendly against Mexico on February 4 in Vancouver. The match will not only celebrate the team’s Olympic bronze medal win, but will also honor the three recently-announced retirees Melissa Tancredi, Rhian Wilkinson and Marie-Eve Nault.

CanWNT Roster by Position

Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo (North Carolina Courage); Stephanie Labbé (Washington Spirit); Kailen Sheridan (Sky Blue FC)

Defenders: Ashley Cathro (Vancouver Whitecaps FC); Allysha Chapman (Boston Breakers); Amandine Pierre-Louis (West Virginia University); Hannah Taylor (Eastside FC); Shelina Zadorsky (Washington Spirit)

Midfielders: Diana Matheson (Washington Spirit); Deanne Rose (Scarborough GS United); Desiree Scott (FC Kansas City); Sarah Stratigakis (Aurora United FC)

Forwards: Lindsay Agnew (Washington Spirit); Janine Beckie (Houston Dash); Gabrielle Carle (Dynamo Québec & Québec Soccer REX); Jordyn Huitema (Vancouver Whitecaps); Adriana Leon (FC Zürich); Alex Lamontagne (Durham United FC); Marie Levasseur (University of Memphis); Nichelle Prince (Houston Dash); Valérie Sanderson (Comètes de Laval); Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns FC)

UPDATE: Sheridan was named to the Canada women’s national team (CanWNT) roster for two upcoming international friendlies against Mexico. The first of the two matches will be the Bronze Medal Celebration match, celebrating CanWNT’s second consecutive bronze medal win in the 2016 Summer Olympics, on February 4 at BC Place in Vancouver. The match will also honor three recently-announced retirees—Melissa Tancredi, Rhian Wilkinson and Marie-Eve Nault—who will be playing before a home crowd for the final time. The second friendly is a closed-door match to be played between the two teams on February 7.