July 14, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Chelsea Stewart’s summer has been pretty eventful with a chance to earn a spot on Canada’s Olympic soccer team in the next week.
Stewart, a Vanderbilt signee, was a starter on Canada’s squad that won the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Puebla, Mexico. Canada defeated the US, 1-0, to take first place in the eight-team tournament. It was the second time in three tries that Canada has won the women’s youth confederation championship.
“The team was so committed to the game plan,” says coach Bob Birarda. “We are so very proud of our team right now.”
Canada previously finished first at the 2004 CONCACAF tournament in Canada (CAN 2:1 USA, a.e.t.) and second at the 2006 CONCACAF tournament in México (CAN 2:3 USA).
Canada won the final on the strength of a Karla Schacher goal late in the first half. Canadian goalkeeper Erin McNulty posted the clean sheet for the victory. Coach Bob Birarda recorded his sixth-straight win in charge of the Canadian women’s U-20 team.
Stewart scored two goals in the tourney and is now competing for a spot on the Canadian Senior Women’s team that will compete in the Bejing Olympics in August.
This fall, Stewart will train for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup that runs November 19 to December 7 in Chile. Because of this she will not play for Vanderbilt this fall and will instead defer until the 2009-10 school year.
