Soccer is making major strides in Canada, especially in our own backyard.

Friday marks the season opener for Calgary Foothills WFC. The club is embarking on exhibition play in an effort to develop and evaluate talent with the goal of joining the USL W-League in 2016.

The roster is made of 25 players, many of whom have strong ties to the Calgary soccer community.

“We’re just trying to put the best players together,” head coach Troye Flannery explained. “They come from lots of different backgrounds. We do have a couple of young ones that are in our Foothills Club right now that special players. Overall, it’s well represented from the good work this city has done with respect to the women’s game.”

The club will be captained by Yvonne Northover, who had a decorated NCAA career at Illinois State University. The midfielder also wore the arm band for the Santa Clarita Blue Heat of the W-League. Sarah Kinzner is also part of the roster and she recently represented Canada at both the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups.

There’s been a lot of behind the scenes work when it comes to the team and the coaching staff is excited to see their efforts finally come to fruition.

“We’ve been on the training ground for what seems like forever,” Flannery said. “As a coach and certainly speaking for the players, they want to play. We want to be put to the test.”

Kickoff on Friday versus Edmonton Green & Gold is 7:30 p.m. at Encana Field, which is located in Shouldice Athletic Park.

LISTEN: 660’s Sandra Prusina talks to Calgary Foothills WFC head coach Troye Flannery