Waterloo Region Record

Lawrence injury means she’ll miss friendlies

NEIL DAVIDSON

Canada will be without Ashley Lawrence when it takes on New Zealand in a pair of women’s soccer friendlies.

The Canadians, currently ranked sixth on the world, play the 23rd-ranked Football Ferns on Saturday at Ottawa’s TD Place and Tuesday at Montreal’s Saputo Stadium. The games, billed as a “Celebration Tour,” are the first for Canada since winning Olympic gold in Tokyo this summer.

Coach Bev Priestman said Lawrence, who plays for French champion Paris Saint-Germain, is suffering from a minor injury. “You’ve seen how busy her season’s been,” Priestman told a virtual availability Friday. “She wouldn’t be available to play in the match. So we collectively made that decision that it’s best for Ash to … get ready to play for PSG.

“Obviously she’s disappointed not to be here.”

Lawrence, a 26-year-old fullback/midfielder from Caledon East, has won 101 caps for Canada. She is one of three Canadian women, along with captain Christine Sinclair and midfielder Jessie Fleming, among the 20 finalists for the Ballon d’Or as the world’s top player.

Priestman, who will be taking part in her first game as Canada coach on home soil, said 20year-old defender Jayde Riviere was late arriving in camp Friday due to academic demands at the University of Michigan.

SPORTS

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2021-10-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://waterloorecord.pressreader.com/article/281895891446362

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