Duo Opens FIFA Women's World Cup
June 05, 2015 11:50 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Rising juniors Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence of the West Virginia University women’s soccer team will compete with the Canadian Women’s National Team at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada, set to open Saturday, June 6.
The Canadians open the tournament and Group A play against China PR tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. ET, at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. The squad continues Group A play against New Zealand on Thursday, June 11, at 9 p.m. ET, also at Commonwealth Stadium. The Canadians conclude group play against the Netherlands on Monday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. ET, at Olympic Stadium, in Montreal, Quebec.
FOX Sports 1 will carry each of the team’s group matches.
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| Buchanan | Lawrence |
“To have these two athletes compete on the highest stage possible in soccer, and to know that they have developed here at West Virginia, just makes me so proud that I am able to work with them,” said Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “I am able to help them achieve their goals and maximize their potential.”
Buchanan, a defender and native of Brampton, Ontario, has made 35 appearances with the national team and earned 32 starts at center back. Lawrence, a midfielder and Toronto native, has seen time in 18 matches and started four, including the team’s final pre-tournament friendly, a 1-0 win over England on May 29.
The two-time reigning Canadian U-20 Player of the Year, Buchanan was a 2015 Missouri Athletic Club (M.A.C.) Hermann Trophy semifinalist. She has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the year in both her seasons at WVU and also is a two-time NSCAA All-America, earning her first career first-team award last season. The Mountaineers’ Team MVP, Buchanan, a two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree, helped WVU post 12 shutouts in 2014, two short of the program’s single-season record. She earned a career-high eight points (3 G, 2 A).
Lawrence, a two-time NSCAA All-Central Region First Team honoree, also is a two-time All-Big 12 First Team award winner. She paced the Mountaineers in 2014 with seven assists and finished second on the team with 15 points (4 G, 7 A). She ranked No. 2 and No. 8 in the Big 12 in assists and points, respectively.
The top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the top four third-place teams, advance to the round of 16 knockout stage, set to begin Saturday, June 20. The quarterfinals will open on Friday, June 26, and the semifinals will be held Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1. The final will kick on Sunday, July 5.
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