Amid a drone spying scandal involving Canada Soccer coaches at the Paris Olympics, Team Canada goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo says the players have become closer — and more determined — than ever.
“It’s been a special week,” D’Angelo, who hails from Welland, Ont., told CBC Hamilton on Friday, two days after the team’s win against Colombia that sent them to Saturday’s quarterfinals.
“The unexpected happened and we were devastated, frustrated, angry… I think it’s brought out the best in us in a really bad situation.”
Just as the Olympics began in late July, the team learned that head coach Bev Priestman and two staff members were implicated in spying on other teams and suspended, while Canada’s women’s team was stripped of six points.
That meant the team needed to win three straight victories to earn the necessary points to survive the group stage.
Player Vanessa Gilles told Radio-Canada earlier this week the players had been too upset to sleep or eat as the news came out.
But they pulled it off, beating New Zealand 2-1, France 2-1, and, on Wednesday, Colombia 1-0.
“At the end of the day, we knew we came in here with the objective to come out [to win] as a group and that’s what we did — regardless of everything that happened off the field,” D’Angelo said.
“Obviously the emotions were heightened but the team did incredible and it was amazing.”
D’Angelo signs with Aston Villa
Just before the game against Colombia, D’Angelo learned other news. She’s been signed with the Women’s Super League team, Aston Villa, in the U.K., leaving Arsenal in London, where she’d been since 2023.
“When they told me, I was like, ‘there’s too many things going on.’ I can’t appreciate this moment right now,” she said, smiling.
D’Angelo grew up in the Niagara Region with dreams of being a goalkeeper like her dad, who was also her first coach. She worked her way through the youth national team program before she attended and played for the University of South Carolina, in the U.S. Before her time with Arsenal, she spent four years with Sweden’s Vittsjo GIK.
WATCH | Sabrina D’Angelo compares her Olympic experiences:
Sabrina D’Angelo, from Welland, Ont., is playing for the Canadian women’s soccer team at the Paris Olympics.
D’Angelo also was part of team that won bronze medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
One of her motivations in Paris is to show young Canadian soccer players what’s possible.
“If a normal person from Welland Ontario is representing her country at the Olympics, it’s possible for anybody,” D’Angelo said.
Before the game Saturday, D’Angelo said she’ll ground herself with her usual ritual, by wearing her “lucky” necklace with pendants from her grandparents, parents and partner, some of whom will be in France to watch Saturday’s game.
“I will give it a little kiss and then put it away,” she said. “It’s my way of knowing they’re with me.”