Summer Universiade women’s soccer (Aug. 11): Canada blanks Great Britain in opener

SHENZHEN, China (CIS) – Twenty-four hours before the opening ceremonies, the Canadian women’s soccer team got off to a great start at the 26th Summer Universiade defeating the 2009 bronze medallists from Great Britain 2-0, on Thursday afternoon.

STATISTICS

The game got off to an auspicious start as only 20 seconds in, players from both teams went for a header and fell to the ground causing an injury timeout.

The rivals welcomed an overcast day after sweltering weather prior to the Games and the Canadians took advantage of decent conditions as they continued to press the action throughout the first half.

Canada’s efforts were rewarded at the 15-minute mark with a stunning free kick by Andréanne Gagné of St-Hyacinthe, Que. The University of Sherbrooke student unleashed a rocket from 25 yards out that left no chance to keeper Joanna Hutcheson. The ball sailed past the British goalie and caromed off the far post and into the back of the net.

“She is a special player to do that and I actually predicted [prior to the kick] that it would be 1-0,” commented Team Canada head coach Graham Roxburgh.

Great Britain had their chances in the first 45 minutes but could not solve Canadian goalie Rachel Bedek of St. Thomas, Ont. The Carleton University student was seriously tested 34 minutes in on a chance inside the six yard box but she jumped out and deflected the quick shot wide.

Down 1-0 at the half, Great Britain came out strong after the break looking for the equalizer but was denied by Bedek, who made two fantastic saves from up close at the 48-minute mark and punched a high shot over the bar off a corner kick at the 67th minute.
Just as the tide looked to break to Great Britain, Canada struck for the second and final goal of the match at the 79th minute when Trinity Western’s Nicole Wright of Cloverdale, B.C., outraced two defenders to win the ball and then deked Hutcheson and fired the ball into the empty net.

Canada played solid defence the rest of the way and earned their first win of the Universiade

“This is an unbelievable win,” said Roxburgh, the Trinity Western University sideline boss. “It was a total team effort from everybody and a great start but we are in a tough group and will now focus on China next.”

Canada (1-0) faces the host Chinese (1-0) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. EDT) before finishing pool play against Taiwan on Monday. China beat Taiwan 2-0 on Thursday.

-CIS-