April 24, 2010

Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri women's soccer player Alysha Bonnick is in China with the Canadian Women's National Team, as one of 22 players selected for the team's match against China on Saturday.

"This is a very rewarding moment for Alysha and is a credit to what she has accomplished as a Tiger," Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz said. "Players strive for the opportunity to represent their country and we're excited we could help her attain that goal."

Bonnick is one of four players making their senior team debut at the weeklong camp, underway since April 18th. The North Gower, Ontario native was a member of the Canadian U-20 National Team camp as a freshman in Vancouver.

"We have many new players, so it is a good chance for our young players to get this experience," Canada's head coach Carolina Morace told CanadaSoccer.com.

Bonnick, listed on the lineup as wearing No. 16 for Canada, has been participating in daily training sessions since arriving on Sunday and is playing alongside veteran professionals Karina Leblanc, Christine Sinclair, and former Missouri volunteer coach Candace Chapman.

The accomplishment is the latest in a long list of accolades earned by the junior attacker since bursting onto the scene at Missouri as 2007 Big 12 Rookie of the Year and a freshman All-American. In three seasons, she has compiled 30 goals and eight assists, and was named to the Hermann Trophy watch list prior to the 2009 season.

Canada, ranked No. 10 in the latest FIFA world rankings, is preparing for the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, tentatively scheduled for late October, early November. The eight-team tournament will qualify the region's top two teams for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.

Saturday's match was be played at the Olympic Sports Center in the Yongchuan District of Chongqing, China. The friendly, a rematch of a 1-1 tie at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, kicked off at 7:35 p.m. local time, or 6:35 a.m. CST. Bonnick entered as a sub in the 58th minute for Melissa Tancredi.