London 2012 is so yesterday.
Canadian soccer can鈥檛 live off the historic women鈥檚 bronze medal from the last Summer Olympics forever.
Sports organizations always need to be looking forward.
Katie Kraeutner and Emma Fletcher, both of Victoria, are part of the camp as Team Tomorrow has gathered in Vancouver.
The EXCELeration Camps are about identifying talent for the 2014 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, to be hosted by sa国际传媒. Also part of the program but not in camp is Elise Wyatt of Cowichan, the daughter of highly-capped former Canadian national team rugby great Mark Wyatt, who is just getting back from playing in the NCAA for DePaul.
鈥淚 definitely want to play in the U-20 World Cup in 2014 and after that the senior national team in the World Cup and Olympics,鈥� said Kraeutner, the Parkland Secondary graduate, who started this season as a freshman in the NCAA Big 10 for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.
This week has been revealing, admitted the rising midfielder.
鈥淭he environment in this camp is super competitive. It鈥檚 a challenge. The flow of play is at such a high pace.鈥�
But this is what Kraeutner believes she was born to do. She excelled in Peninsula Minor Hockey and in basketball at Parkland, as well, but only one sport truly tugged on her heartstrings.
鈥淚 fell in love with soccer,鈥� she said.
That could end up being fortunate for sa国际传媒 in international sport.
鈥淜atie is super quick. Her feet are incredible,鈥� said Dave Dew, who coaches Kraeutner on her summer team, the Peninsula Co-op Highlanders of the Pacific Coast League.
So is her desire.
鈥淜atie鈥檚 work rate is phenomenal,鈥� added Dew.
That much was evident as Kraeutner scored a goal and drew two assists for the Highlanders last weekend in a victory over the TSS Academy at Royal Athletic Park.
Because of the national camp, Kraeutner will miss the Highlanders鈥� next game, Sunday in Coquitlam.
But Dew doesn鈥檛 mind.
Kraeutner鈥檚 got the best excuse any player can have for missing a club game 鈥� being away because of national team games or camps.
CORNER KICKS: Wyatt will join the Highlanders when she returns from DePaul . . . Fletcher plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the Pacific Coast League.
