Kailen Sheridan will travel to Europe for two international friendlies in April. (Brad Smith, ISI Photos)

Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan was called into the Canadian women’s national team for two games in Europe next month.

Sherdian, 21, hails from Whitby, Ontario.

The Maple Leafs will play Sweden in Trelleborg, Sweden April 6 and Germany in Erfurt, Germany April 9. The two match series pits Canada’s Olympic bronze medalists against the Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver and gold medalists, respectively.

“These are two big matches, you don’t often get the opportunity to play both the Olympic gold and silver medalist in back-to-back matches,” Canada head doach John Herdman said in a statement. “Both teams are favourites for the European Championships later this summer and we know they will be in prime condition and getting ready to peak for the competition. The matches are going to be tough, but this is what we are looking for to test our current group and to identify our gaps in the build up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.”

Germany and Sweden recently rose in last week’s FIFA rankings with the Germans squeezing past the United States to take the No. 1 spot. Sweden is tied for sixth with Japan while Canada sits in fifth place.

“We want to take this team to No. 1 in the world,” Herdman said. “The only way we are going to be able to do that is to play these tough matches and continually learn from them. Canada Soccer has made incredible strides over the last five years, earning back-to-back podium finishes, and our goal continues to be reaching the number one spot.”

The roster:

GK Stephanie Labbé, age 30, from Edmonton, AB/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
GK Sabrina D’Angelo, age 23, from Welland, ON/ North Carolina Courage (NWSL)
GK Kailen Sheridan, age 21, from Whitby, ON/ Sky Blue FC (NWSL)
FB Lindsay Agnew, age 21, 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
FB Marie Levasseur, age 19, from Stoneham, QC/ University of Memphis (NCAA)
CB Hannah Taylor, age 17, from Edmonds, WA/ Eastside FC
CB Kadeisha Buchanan, age 21, from Brampton, ON/ FCF Olympique Lyonnais
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)
M Gabrielle Carle, age 18, from Lévis, QC/ CS Lévis-Est & Québec Soccer REX
M Sarah Stratigakis, age 18, from Woodbridge, ON/ Aurora United FC (League1 Ontario)
F Jordyn Huitema, age 15, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer REX
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 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.