Newest Griffins recruit Sousa brings national team camp experience, high-level soccer IQ
Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The list of players who attended a U17 Canadian national team camp before committing to the MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team is growing.
Head coach Dean Cordeiro officially announced Wednesday that Winnipeg product Taylor Sousa is heading for MacEwan, marking the fourth national team pool player the Griffins will have during the 2020 Canada West season.
Shanice Alfred, a rookie with the Griffins in 2019, was the first and will be joined by Sousa and previously announced recruits Grace Mwasalla and Renee DeCorby next season.
"Taylor is one of the top players in the Manitoba REX (Regional Excel Centre) program," said Cordeiro. "She's a dynamic midfield player who reads the game so well. She's nice and tidy on the ball, is a technician and fits into our system really well.
"Since we've graduated a few midfield players, we like Taylor's ability to contribute and step in and compete for one of those spots."
A product of Winnipeg-based Valour FC Elite, Sousa has an extensive resume that includes a super calendar year of 2017 where she was invited to both the Team Canada U15 and U17 camps, got selected to the National Excel Centre with the Vancouver Whitecaps Elite REX program and was the youngest player to make Team Manitoba for the Canada Summer Games.
"Taylor's obviously played at the highest of levels and has really been honing her craft in Winnipeg," he added. "We're pumped to add her to the mix. She's a player of high calibre, who will contribute and leave a mark here with our program."
Also among her career highlights: being selected as a Canadian Soccer Association all-star as Manitoba's provincial team captain in 2015 and being named Whitecaps FC Manitoba Academy Centre player of the year in 2016.
"One thing that really separates her from a lot of the others and why she was at a national team camp is just her soccer IQ," noted Cordeiro. "She is so savvy on the ball. But her presence on the pitch and intelligence of where to be, finding pockets of space to connect passes and break lines and create offensively, is what really sets Taylor apart. We're really excited about that."
Being a lefty, Sousa will balance out the Griffins' lineup nicely and has the versatility to contribute across the pitch.
"She's dangerous around goal, can finish and create," said Cordeiro. "She's also played some left back and in the front three as a wide player. We just like Taylor's versatility to come in and add to our talent pool."
Sousa, who will enter MacEwan's Bachelor of Arts program, was recently awarded the Ashley Schlag Memorial Scholarship at the Manitoba Soccer Night of Excellence.
