Aug. 8, 2012

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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore Sabrina D’Angelo (Welland, Ontario) has been named to Canada’s 21-player roster for the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup as announced by Canadian coach Andrew Olivieri.

D’Angelo and the Canadian team left Wednesday morning for Japan where the team will play an exhibition against the host nation before taking part in the tournament that takes place from August 18 to September 9. Canada earned its spot in the U-20 World Cup after winning the silver medal at the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship in March where D’Angelo earned the distinction of being just the second goalkeeper in the 10-year history of the international competition to post shutouts in all three group stage matches.

Canada – a member of Group C – will face Argentina, Norway and Korea DPR in the group phase of the tournament with the first two matches on August 20 (Argentina) and August 23 (Norway) taking place in Kobe and the final group match on August 27 (Korea DPR) will take place in Saitama.

The winner and runner-up in each of the four groups will advance to the knockout stage that begins August 30. The final is scheduled for September 8 in Tokyo. D’Angelo will miss South Carolina’s first four matches (at UW-Milwaukee 8/17, at Minnesota 8/19, vs Mercer 8/23, vs Jacksonville 8/26), and may also miss the final two non-conference matches (vs Clemson 9/1, vs ECU 9/9) depending on Canada’s run in the tournament. The goalkeeper will return to the Gamecocks in time for the SEC opener against Mississippi State at Stone Stadium on Friday, September 14.

D’Angelo’s freshman season at South Carolina saw her named to the NSCAA All-South Region first team and the Soccer America All-Freshman First Team in addition to being picked as the SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year after solidifying herself as the goalkeeper of the year in the SEC as a freshman. D’Angelo was the first player in SEC history to earn two Player of the Year honors in the same season, and she was the only freshman named to the First Team All-SEC list in addition to being the only freshman goalkeeper in the nation to be named to an NSCAA All-Region team. She finished the season fifth among the nation’s freshmen in goals against average (0.80) and 10th in save percentage (.824). D’Angelo was the SEC’s leader in goals against average and set the South Carolina freshman records for goals against average, save percentage, matches played, matches started and wins. She was named a semifinalist for the All White Kit Rookie of the Year, International Player of the Year and Golden Glove awards at the conclusion of the 2011 season, and was also honored with the H.L. Cudney Memorial Award at the 40th Annual Welland Sports Awards – the top athletics honor in Welland, Ontario. D’Angelo was the youngest person to win the award since its inception in 1962.

No. 24 South Carolina takes on No. 2 Duke in a free exhibition at Stone Stadium on Thursday, August 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Season Tickets for the 2012 season are currently on sale. Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $10 for youth. They can be purchased at GamecocksOnline.com or by calling (800) 4SC-FANS.

CANADA
1- GK- Dayle Colpitts | USA / Virginia Tech
2- FB- Jade Kovacevic | CAN / Toronto Lady Lynx
3- FB- Mélissa Roy | CAN / Amiral de Québec
4- CB- Rachel Melhado | CAN / Toronto Lady Lynx
5- M- Sarah Robbins | CAN / Comètes de Laval
6- CB- Shelina Zadorsky | CAN / Toronto Lady Lynx
7- FB/M- Kylie Davis | CAN / Comètes de Laval
8- M- Danica Wu | CAN / Comètes de Laval
9- F- Christine Exeter | Unattached / sans club
10- LM- Christabel Oduro | CAN / Hamilton FC
11- F- Jenna Richardson | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
12- CB /CM- Nicole Setterlund | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
13- M- Caroline Beaulne | CAN / Longueuil U-18
14- CM- Constance de Chantal-Dumont | CAN / Comètes de Laval
15- D/M- Vanessa Legault-Cordisco | CAN / Comètes de Laval
16- LM- Jaclyn Sawicki | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
17- F- Nkem Ezurike | CAN / Comètes de Laval
18- GK- Sabrina D’Angelo | CAN / SOUTH CAROLINA
19- F- Adriana Leon | CAN / Toronto Lady Lynx
20- CM- Catherine Charron-Delage | CAN / Comètes de Laval
21- GK- Geneviève Richard | CAN / Hamilton FC