Alyscha Mottershead made her Canadian national team debut in the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Mottershead Helps Canada Qualify for 2012 Olympics
2/10/2012 4:47:18 PM | Women's Soccer
Junior Alyscha Mottershead has returned to campus to train with her Syracuse teammates after playing with and against some of the greatest women's soccer players in the world at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Vancouver. Mottershead helped Team Canada finish second and secure a spot in the 2012 Olympics in London.
Canada went undefeated in pool play. Mottershead, who was making her first appearance with the national team, played the entire 90 minutes in a 2-0 victory against Cuba. Canada defeated Mexico, 3-1, in the semifinals before losing to the United States, 4-0, in the finals. The top two teams from the tournament advance to the Olympics.
The overall attendance from the tournament was more than 160,000, which included a sold-old championship game. Mottershead played before a crowd of close to 13,000, which included her aunt and cousin, when the Canadians took on Cuba.
“I think the word we used was electrifying,” Mottershead said of the atmosphere. “It was a little overwhelming in the beginning. I just had to calm myself down.”
Mottershead, a midfielder who transferred to SU after her freshman year, played in every game for Syracuse in 2011 and recorded two assists. She also helped the SU defense post seven shutouts. Syracuse won seven games this season and advanced to the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 2005.
“It's a tremendous honor to play for and represent your country,” Orange head coach Phil Wheddon said. “Making the national team speaks volumes about Alyscha as a player and as a person. It's a great way to highlight the progress of our program.”
Mottershead is now in a pool of players that will compete for a spot on the 18-player roster for the Olympic Games. She begins her quest for one of those coveted spots during a team camp next week.
“When I transferred my main goal was to go somewhere where I could get to the national team,” Mottershead said. “I knew people like Phil (Wheddon) could help me with that. His help definitely got me there. Our entire staff – the efforts they put forth to get me there were incredible and I couldn't have done it without them.”
Canada went undefeated in pool play. Mottershead, who was making her first appearance with the national team, played the entire 90 minutes in a 2-0 victory against Cuba. Canada defeated Mexico, 3-1, in the semifinals before losing to the United States, 4-0, in the finals. The top two teams from the tournament advance to the Olympics.
The overall attendance from the tournament was more than 160,000, which included a sold-old championship game. Mottershead played before a crowd of close to 13,000, which included her aunt and cousin, when the Canadians took on Cuba.
“I think the word we used was electrifying,” Mottershead said of the atmosphere. “It was a little overwhelming in the beginning. I just had to calm myself down.”
Mottershead, a midfielder who transferred to SU after her freshman year, played in every game for Syracuse in 2011 and recorded two assists. She also helped the SU defense post seven shutouts. Syracuse won seven games this season and advanced to the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 2005.
“It's a tremendous honor to play for and represent your country,” Orange head coach Phil Wheddon said. “Making the national team speaks volumes about Alyscha as a player and as a person. It's a great way to highlight the progress of our program.”
Mottershead is now in a pool of players that will compete for a spot on the 18-player roster for the Olympic Games. She begins her quest for one of those coveted spots during a team camp next week.
“When I transferred my main goal was to go somewhere where I could get to the national team,” Mottershead said. “I knew people like Phil (Wheddon) could help me with that. His help definitely got me there. Our entire staff – the efforts they put forth to get me there were incredible and I couldn't have done it without them.”
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