Kailen Sheridan Named to Canada WNT Roster for Friendlies in Europe

Sky Blue FC’s Kailen Sheridan has been named to the Canada Soccer Women’s National Team roster for upcoming friendlies against top-tier opponents Sweden and Germany. Canada will face Sweden on April 6 in Trelleborg, Sweden, followed by Germany on April 9 in Erfurt, Germany. The two matches pit Canada’s Olympic Bronze Medalists against the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Silver and Gold Medalists, respectively.

The 23rd overall draft pick for SBFC has been called-up to the senior national team multiple times the year, with her most recent being the 2017 Algarve Cup Roster. While competing in Portugal, Sheridan earned the starting role against Russia and helped the squad to a 2-1 victory in route to a second-place tournament finish.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team has recent history playing Germany, including two games at last summer’s Olympic Games, but the Canadians haven’t played Sweden since a two-match series in 2014 that resulted in a 1-0 win for Canada, followed by a 1-1 draw days later.

“These are two big matches, you don’t often get the opportunity to play both the Olympic Gold and Silver medalist in back-to-back matches,” said Head Coach John Herdman in a Canada Soccer press release. “Both teams are favorites for the European Championships later this summer and we know they will be in prime condition and getting ready to peak for the competition. The matches are going to be tough, but this is what we are looking for to test our current group and to identify our gaps in the build up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.”

Canada’s roster for the match-ups against Sweden and Germany include 16 members of the 2016 Olympic Bronze Medal Team, and six additions to the squad, most of whom played in Canada’s recent silver medal performance at the 2017 Algarve Cup. The young roster has an average age of 22.4 years old, and includes seven teenagers.

“We’ve made some changes to our roster since last year, adding some new players and saying goodbye to others, so this two-game series will be a real test of how our squad comes together against tier one competition,” said Herdman in a Canada Soccer press release. “We’re confident this squad will be competitive against these two teams, but it’s a young team that’s still building the experience, game smarts and physicality required to be a genuine number one contender. We are starting to fill the experience void left by our retired veterans and will use these matches to keep providing our youth with opportunities."

Both Sweden and Germany recently rose in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, with Sweden now tied in sixth place with Japan while Germany has overcome the USA to take the coveted number one spot in women’s football.

Canada Soccer Women’s National Team 2017 European Friendlies Roster

GK Stephanie Labbé, age 30, from Edmonton, AB/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)

GK Sabrina D'Angelo, age 23, from Welland, ON/ North Carolina Courage (NWSL)

GK Kailen Sheridan, age 21, from Whitby, ON/ Sky Blue FC (NWSL)

FB Lindsay Agnew, age 21, from Kingston, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)

FB Allysha Chapman, age 28, from Courtice, ON/ Boston Breakers (NWSL)

FB Ashley Lawrence, age 21, from Caledon, ON/ Paris St-Germain FC

FB Marie Levasseur, age 19, from Stoneham, QC/ University of Memphis (NCAA)

CB Hannah Taylor, age 17, from Edmonds, WA/ Eastside FC

CB Kadeisha Buchanan, age 21, from Brampton, ON/ FCF Olympique Lyonnais

CB Shelina Zadorsky, age 24, from London, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)

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

M Rebecca Quinn, age 21, from Toronto, ON/ Duke University (NCAA)

M Sophie Schmidt, age 28, from Abbotsford, BC/ FFC Frankfurt (Bundesliga)

M Desiree Scott, age 29, from Winnipeg, MB/ FC Kansas City (NWSL)

M Gabrielle Carle, age 18, from Lévis, QC/ CS Lévis-Est & Québec Soccer REX

M Sarah Stratigakis, age 18, from Woodbridge, ON/ Aurora United FC (League1 Ontario)

F Jordyn Huitema, age 15, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX

F Nichelle Prince, age 22, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)

F Deanne Rose, age 18, from Alliston, ON/ Scarborough GS United

F Adriana Leon, age 24, from King City, ON/ Boston Breakers (NWSL)

F Janine Beckie, age 22, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Houston Dash (NWSL)

F Christine Sinclair, age 33, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns FC (NWSL)