Canada has recalled Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan for two international friendlies this month.

The Canadian women’s national team will host Costa Rica in Winnipeg June 8 and in Toronto June 11.

The matches will mark the first meetings between Olympic bronze medalists, ranked fifth in the world by FIFA, and CONCACAF rival Costa Rica since the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in February 2016. That competition secured Canada’s spot at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“It’s great to be back in Canada, and the players are really looking forward to this series against Costa Rica,” Canada head coach John Herdman said. “They have two world class players in Raquel Rodriguez [Sky Blue FC] and Shirley Cruz [Paris Saint Germain] and as a team they’ve been improving over the years.

“It’s important that our team are continually exposed to CONCACAF opponents, who offer a very different challenge to what we’ve just experienced in Europe with Germany and Sweden. With the critical upcoming 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, which is the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 qualification tournament, we will draw on this experience in our planning and preparation.”

The roster

GK Stephanie Labbé, age 30, from Edmonton, AB/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
GK Sabrina D’Angelo, age 24, from Welland, ON/ North Carolina Courage (NWSL)
GK Kailen Sheridan, age 21, from Whitby, ON/ Sky Blue FC (NWSL)
FB Lindsay Agnew, age 22, from Kingston, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
FB Allysha Chapman, age 28, from Courtice, ON/ Boston Breakers (NWSL)
FB Ashley Lawrence, age 21, from Caledon, ON/ Paris St-Germain FC (Division 1 Féminine)
CB Shannon Woeller, age 27, from Vancouver, BC/ FF USV Jena (Bundesliga)
CB Kadeisha Buchanan, age 21, from Brampton, ON/ FCF Olympique Lyonnais (Division 1 Féminine)
CB Shelina Zadorsky, age 24, from London, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
M Jessie Fleming, age 19, from London, ON/ UCLA (NCAA)
M Rebecca Quinn, age 21, from Toronto, ON/ Duke University (NCAA)
M Sophie Schmidt, age 28, from Abbotsford, BC/ FFC Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
M Desiree Scott, age 29, from Winnipeg, MB/ FC Kansas City (NWSL)
F Nichelle Prince, age 22, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
F Deanne Rose, age 18, from Alliston, ON/ Scarborough GS United
F Adriana Leon, age 24, from King City, ON/ Boston Breakers (NWSL)
F Jordyn Huitema, age 16, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX
F Janine Beckie, age 22, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
F Christine Sinclair, age 33, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns FC (NWSL)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.