GWANGJU, South Korea (Team Canada) – The Canadian women’s soccer team completed the preliminary round of the Universiade tournament with a clean record of three wins in as many games, defeating the USA by a score of 2-0 Monday at the Boseong Public Stadium.

Gwangju 2015 website: www.gwangju2015.com

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2015/index

Team Canada Twitter account : @CDNUniversiade | #goCanadaU

It is the first time in the history of the competition that Canada concludes the group stage with three wins. The team will now try to bring their momentum into the knockout round and improve the maple leaf’s best performance at the Universiade. Team Canada finished fifth three times, in 1993 in Buffalo, in 2005 in Izmir, Turkey, and in 2011 in Shenzhen, China.

The red and white will now face the Czech Republic in the knockout stage on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. (3:30 a.m. ET). The Czechs finished second in Group A with a 1-1-1 record.

Canada’s head coach Peyvand Mossavat had trouble hiding his pride after the game. “I’m thrilled for the girls and for Canada. I’m excited to be here with them. We dictated the momentum of the game in the first 15 or 20 minutes, but we knew USA needed a win and that they were going to come at us,” said the 2014 CIS Coach of the Year.

“We had a couple of new players on the starting line-up, and it shows that there is power in a collective effort. We are going to get ready for the next game and have a look at where we can get better. Hopefully we can keep making history,” he added. 

The Canadians had a strong start, when at the 7^th minute, Heather Lund of Red Deer, Alta., found Arielle Roy-Petitclerc of Saint-Nicolas, Que., in space allowing her to take a quality shot that just missed the target.

At the 20^-minute mark, it was goalkeeper Marie-Joëlle Vandal’s time to shine with a diving save to her right. The Laval University Rouge et Or player again managed to make some crucial stops during the meeting, to the delight of her coach.

“Marie-Joëlle was just unbelievable. This kid needs an opportunity with the national program. She’s been fantastic, keeping us in three games. She is the reason why we have the three wins,” said Mossavat.

Then, at the 32^nd minute, forward Joëlle Gosselin of Quebec City broke through and found herself alone before the American goalkeeper. Her shot was, however, off left, and both teams retreated to the locker room tied at 0-0.

The Americans increased the pressure in the second period, as they had to prevail by a margin of several goals to maintain their chances of progressing in the tournament. However, it was the Canadians who scored first at the 65^th minute. Defenceman Melissa Roy of Levis, Que., spotted Marie-Ève Jacques of Sherbrooke, Que., down the left wing. The Sherbrooke Vert & Or player crossed it to Heather Lund in front of the net, and the captain scored her second goal of the competition, allowing Canada to breathe.

The Jacques-Lund combination stroke again in the 82^nd minute. Jacques emerged from the left flank, crossed the ball over the USA’s keeper, and Lund headed it in a deserted cage, confirming Canada’s victory.

“We knew the USA had nothing to lose going into this game, but we also knew we needed a win to secure the first place of the group,”said Lund. “On both of the goals, Marie-Ève did all the work, I was just at the right place, at the right time.”

About the Summer Universiade

The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. The Universiade is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games. Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 11,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:

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