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Andres Torres

February 6 , 2014 Email

Andres Torres

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Alyscha Mottershead has settled into life in Germany after signing her first professional contract for SC Sand in the Bundesliga. After debuting with the Canadian Youth Program at the age of 14 under coach Bob Birarda, Mottershead has had a successful nine years in Canadian soccer, winning a bronze medal with Canada at the 2008 CONCACAF, a Women's Under-17 Championship, representing Canada at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand, and won a silver medal with Canada at the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament.



Having spent four years at Syracuse University, the midfielder was durable through her time in the NCAA, having started nearly every game between 2009-2012. Brittany Anghel, Syracuse's keeper during from 2010-2013, knows what Mottershead has to offer in going overseas to continue her career. "It's great that she got an opportunity to play over there in Germany. It's one of the strongest countries with some very competitive soccer. I couldn't be more proud of her, she's worked hard up until this point and never stopped training and working to get fitter and better as a player to help her get to the next level. She's the type of player you want next to you on the field because she works so hard and will help her teammates look good." "Alyscha will probably do very well with her soccer in Germany and eventually in a few years she will have had a successful pro career and also a great cultural experience". Mottershead was sent on a free transfer to play for the second half of the season and signed with second place SC Sand, who play in the second division Bundesliga. Her progress is being closely observed by the Canadian coaching body, which will be looking to call her up again for the National team.



“I decided to come to Germany and Sign with SC Sand because I’ve dreamt of playing professionally and Germany offers a competitive environment with the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga is a very technical and tactical environment and I know that being here will help me to continue to improve as a player. While I’ve always wanted to play professionally, I am also working hard with the goal of playing for my country again; coming here was a necessary step to continue heading in that direction.” SC Sand will play their first game of the second half of the season on Feb. 23, 2014.