Brampton Soccer in the CONCACAF W Championship

The Canadian Women’s National Team, unfortunately, lost 1:0 to USA in final of the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship. Still, they’ve qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand and can still qualify for the next Summer Olympics if they win an additional qualifier. But, how did Brampton soccer fare in the CONCACAF W Championship?

Brampton in CONCACAF W Championship

The first place to start is with Canada where Brampton soccer’s Ashley Lawrence and Kadeisha Buchanan played every minute of every one of Canada’s 5 games. As defenders, with Lawrence at left fullback and Buchanan at center back, the Brampton duo can take credit for the 4 clean sheets in 5 games and the grand total of 1 goal against. Canada did not allow a single goal, thanks to our in large part to Bramptonians, until the final against USA. (Of note, the goal was scored from the penalty spot. Canada did not concede from open play for the duration of the tournament.)

Brampton’s influence doesn’t end with Canada however; Jayda Hylton-Pelaia who started all of Jamaica’s matches at fullback until succumbing to an injury (cruelly enough, against Canada). Hylton-Pelaia is another product of Brampton’s soccer community and contributed greatly to Jamaica’s third place finish in the CONCACAF W Championship as they beat Costa Rica in 3rd/4th playoff.

An interesting detail about the current Jamaican National Women’s Team is that the federation is, more so than ever, recruiting well developed female soccer players from all over the globe, with Jamaican ancestry. The majority of the team were born in the United States with Canada and England contributing as well. Forward Tiffany Cameron and Goalkeeper Yazmeen Jamieson are both Canadian born. Jamieson currently plays in League1 Ontario for Simcoe County Rovers.

Kadeisha Buchanan

Buchanan completed her transfer to Chelsea FC, champions of England’s Women’s Super League and perennial title favourites, from Olympique Lyonnaise who are essentially the giants of women’s soccer world wide with numerous domestic titles and cups, as well as a litany of Champions League trophies. Will Buchanan’s addition finally help Chelsea FC overcome their final hurdle to being considered one of the greatest women’s teams in the world? That hurdle being a Champions League title.

Ashley Lawrence

Lawrence has been playing with Paris St. Germain for several seasons now and just recently helped upset the power structure in France as PSG pipped Olympique Lyonnaise to the title. As England’s WSL continues to grow in stature and spending, it’s only a matter of time until one of the traditionally large English sides steps in with an offer of Lawrence and a healthy pay packet, as Ashley is currently considered one of the best left backs in world soccer. OneSoccer did a comprehensive write up on Ashley’s current form.

Jayda Hylton-Pelaia

Hylton-Pelaia is currently playing in League1 Ontario with the Woodbridge Strikers helping them to the 2021 Championship (along with fellow Bramptonian Christabel Oduro). While Jayda herself has yet to take to the pitch as a member of Brampton Adult Soccer, her brother was a regular BAS participant for several seasons.