Canada Soccer is holding a women’s EXCEL identification camp in Burnaby which began on February 9. The camp features four current FC Edmonton REX players, three of whom are making their debut with the national program.

ABOUT FC EDMONTON REX

FC Edmonton’s Brooke Lang, Kayla Mostowich, Tanya Boychuk and Lauren Dluzewski are currently in Vancouver for the five-day camp, which also features Edmonton RPC player Nicole Panas, who was recently invited to the BC Girls Elite REX program in Vancouver.

“We are so proud of the girls,” FC Edmonton REX technical director Sergio Teixeira said. “We are really excited for them, they are going to do fantastic. It’s excellent to see them get this opportunity and I feel like they are going to make the most of it.



“The national camp experience will be a fantastic one, to go through an identification camp, get a chance to work with the national coaches and work with players from across the country is going to be a great experience.”

The camp is an opportunity for Canada Soccer’s National EXCEL Director Bev Priestman and EXCEL staff to review the progress of newly identified players who have performed well at the university level, club level and in Canada Soccer Licensed Regional EXCEL programs (REX).

“Our goal is to provide the Women’s National team with a constant flow of talented young players,” said Priestman-Humphries. “By identifying and bringing these players together, we are further uniting and strengthening the talent pathways, programs and systems that will propel elite women’s soccer in Canada.”

The camp in Burnaby has been designed to assess players ages 18 to 20, some who have made international appearances for Canada at the youth level, as Canada prepares for the next FIFA youth tournaments in 2018.

“Over the last four years the quality of experience for young, talented, Canadian female players has improved immensely due to the alignment and delivery of our EXCEL system,” said Priestman. “Camps like these are ensuring we are leaving no stone unturned in the identification and development of young talent, to ultimately support the Women’s National Team in continuing to succeed at Olympic Games and FIFA Women’s World Cups.”

Canada Soccer’s Excel System, designed by Women's Excel Programme Director and Women’s National Team Head Coach John Herdman, has already produced eight Women’s National Team players, and Olympic bronze medalists, in Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, Jessie Fleming, Rebecca Quinn, Janine Beckie, Shelina Zadorsky, Deanne Rose, and Gabrielle Carle, three of whom are still eligible for youth competition.

Canada Soccer Women’s National EXCEL Program, presented by Bell, brings together the best with the best at the national youth level. Operating across the U-14 to U-17 and U-18 to U-23 age groups, the program is designed to deliver an aligned talent structure and system that progresses more top players to Canada’s Women’s National Team.

Canada Soccer Women’s EXCEL Identification Camp Roster

Mollie Eriksson, Ottawa South United SC

Nicole Panas, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex/Edmonton RPC

Marissa Zucchetto, Aurora United FC (League 1 Ontario)

Samantha Chang, Unionville-Milliken SC

Olivia Sheppard, Princeton University (NCAA)

Nadège L’Esperance, University of Louisville

Brooke Lang, FC Edmonton Girls REX*

Serena Dolan, University of Memphis (NCAA)

Kaela Hansen, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex

Madicynn Harnish, Suburban FC

Kayla Mostowich, FC Edmonton Girls REX

Tanya Boychuk, FC Edmonton Girls REX*

Saje Brar, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex

Shanya Dhindsa, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex

Lauren Dluzewski, FC Edmonton Girls REX*

Nadya Gill, Quinnipac University (NCAA)

Nicole Kozlova, Scarborough GS United

Jessica Lisi, University of Memphis (NCAA)

*First appearance with national program

ABOUT FC EDMONTON REX

FC Edmonton’s REX Program aims to prepare and develop players to move onwards to the national and collegiate levels of women’s soccer. Funded by FC Edmonton owners Tom and Dave Fath, the women’s REX program also draws support from the Alberta Soccer Association.

ABOUT CANADA SOCCER

Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at canadasoccer.com.