BRAMPTON – For Kadeisha Buchanan there is a moment in 2014 that stands out.

That came while playing for Canada’s senior women’s national soccer team against the No. 1 ranked United States in a friendly in Winnipeg last May before 28.000 fans, Buchanan scored the only goal for Canada in a 1-1 tie and was mobbed by her teammates.

“I got tackled by a player who I have looked up to, Christine Sinclair,” she said. Like many Canadians, Buchanan watched Sinclair’s performance during the 2012 London Olympics and Canada’s heartbreaking loss to the USA in the semifinal. She said she did not expect that just a few months later she would be a teammate with Sinclair as a member of Canada’s senior team. With Canada about to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup beginning June 6, Buchanan has emerged as one of Canada’s key players.

After a spectacular season during 2014 Buchanan has been selected as the winner of the Ken Giles Award, presented by The Guardian to Brampton’a amateur athlete of the year. Not only has her play internationally earned her raves but even though she is just 19-years-old she has earned recognition as one of the top players in NCAA soccer with the University of West Virginia University. She was the only sophomore named to the All-American First Team. She won her second consecutive Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. A communications studies major she has

Canadian soccer also recognized her as for the last two years she has been selected as Canada’s female under-20 player of the year in voting by coaches and fans. A centre back, Buchanan has been called “the (Christine) Sinclair of defenders”  by Canada head coach John Herdman.

Canada Post has issued a stamp to recognize the World Cup, the two Canadian players illustrated are Sinclair and Buchanan. Canada is hoping to capitalize on hosting the World Cup by hoisting the trophy when it concludes on July 5 in Vancouver but Buchanan is hoping that this tournament will do even more.

“I want to inspire others,” said Buchanan. A graduate of Cardinal Leger, Buchanan began playing soccer at age eight with the Brams United Girls Soccer Club. She first joined the Canadian youth program in 2010 at age 14. She made her debut with Canada’s senior team in January of 2013, as a 17-year-old.

She has now made 34 international appearances with Canada’s A team with 31 starts. Buchanan will also have the rare distinction of being able to represent Canada in consecutive years in world competitions at home. Last summer she played for Canada at the under-20 World Cup, and is one of three Canadian players that will participate in both.

The youngest of seven sisters, Buchanan has had a busy schedule over the last few months. She took a semester off from university to train with Team Canada. After a training camp in Vancouver, and a short trip home earlier this month, she and the Canadian team went for some heat training in southern California and Cancun, Mexico scheduled to return home on (Thursday) May 21. Canada plays its final friendly prior to the World Cup, facing England on May 29 in Hamilton.

The Ken Giles Award was officially announced last night (May 20) at the city of Brampton Sports Awards.

(Source: Brampton Guardian)

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