Soccer player Jaclyn Sawicki of the UVic Vikes is going to U20 World Cup qualifier in Panama.
Sawicki, a second-year midfielder, will join Team Canada for a pre-tournament camp from Feb. 13 to 27 in Costa Rica before playing in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Panama, from Feb. 27 to March 11.
“Any time you an get an opportunity to play with the national team says a lot about who you are as a soccer player and what your abilities are like,” said Vikes head coach Tracy David.
“You never know when an opportunity like this may arise again, so when you’re there you have to show your stuff.”
Sawicki was the Vikes 2010-11 rookie of the year and was named as a second-team CIS All-Canadian and first-time Canada West all-star this year.
She also earned two caps playing with the senior national team’s on their fall tour in the U.S. She’s the only CIS player on the U20 roster, otherwise made up of Canadians playing in the NCAA.
“Certainly in the past, it’s been encouraged to players to attend university in the States but this shows young players they do not have to go south of the border to play,” David said.
“You can stay at home and have a good career here and play for the national team.”
Since 2004, Canada has won two CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championships (2004 and 2008).
