Semifinal wins earns Canadian junior women first Junior World Cup berth since 2013
Another tough defensive effort coupled with a Thora Rae backhand rocket vaults Canada into the finals and secures a berth to the Junior World Cup.
Canada’s Thursday tilt with the hosts, Chile was a back-and-forth battle from the first whistle. Chances at both ends kept defenses busy. It was Rae who broke the deadlock right before half. Taking a pass from Sam McCrory in the circle, she one-timed a backhand past Chilean keeper, Rosario Lanz. That goal stood as the game winner as Canada shut the door in the second half.
Team Canada is a tight defensive unit. With captain Sara Goodman, Madison Workman and goalkeeper Lucy Wheeler behind the ball, teams all week have found it near-impossible to get quality chances. Canada also brings back their forwards and midfielders to help stack the defensive end. It was a complete team effort. Although Chile earned a PC in the first half and threw everything at Canada second half, they couldn’t get anything past the Canadian keeper.
Canada takes its shutout record into a final match against a Uruguayan team that they drew 0-0 in the opening match of the tournament. Uruguay squeezed past USA on the other side of the bracket in a tight 1-0 contest.
With the top three teams from JPAC qualifying for the World Cup, Canada’s semifinal win bought themselves a trip to the JWC. The tournament will take place in Potchefstroom, South Africa from December 5-16, 2021.
Canada plays against Uruguay on Saturday in the Junior Pan Am gold medal match.
Canada defeats Chile in the JPAC semifinal, lining up a championship match against Uruguay. Photos/Rodrigo Jaramillo/PAHF
