ANALYSIS – The CANWNT’s Kailen Sheridan stepped up when needed. There were some great young players who also made an impression, in particular, Kaylee Hunter and Annabelle Chukwu.
CANWNT’s Kailen Sheridan Stepped Up at Sports Illustrated Stadium
CANWNT’s Kailen Sheridan Played Well
A big reason Canada won this game was Kailen Sheridan. Her ability to make timely stops was why Canada did not lose this game.
Some examples include:
- Made a big save on a Sofía Domínguez shot early in the game.
- Sheridan made a good save in the 35th minute of play following a corner.
Of course, as seen above, the video of Kailen Sheridan’s performance in the penalty shoot-out was the reason why they won the game. In particular, the save Sheridan made on a Sophia Braun penalty kick was spectacular. Sheridan had to dive and extend herself just to make the save, which ended up helping Canada win the game against Argentina.
Some Great Creative Play by The CANWNT
The CANWNT were at their best when they found the open player in areas to score. For example:
- Janine Sonis set up the play where she passed the ball to Jordyn Huitema, who passed the ball to Chukwu, and then the final pass to Sonis, in a dangerous scoring area.
- There was also an NSL connection as AFC Toronto’s Kaylee Hunter passed the ball to Ottawa Rapid FC’s Delaney Baie Pridham (DB Pridham) , but could not finish the play.
The biggest chance Canada had was probably Jordyn Huitema’s shot in the 39th minute, which was stopped spectacularly by Argentina goalkeeper, Solana Pereyra. There was also the fantastic pass that Cloé Lacasse got from Jessie Fleming, but Lacasse was unable to convert on the scoring opportunity.
Argentina Played Well Defensively
Credit should be given to Argentina. While they were not perfect, there were some key defensive plays that the team made that made it difficult for Canada to score, such as:
- Arianna Reche made some good defensive plays.
- Aldana Cometti might have made a goal-saving defensive play, blocking Lacasse’s shot from close range very late into the game.
What one might have noticed watching the game is that Argentina tried to disrupt the flow of the game a bit as they committed some fouls against the CANWNT. An example would be Catalina Ongaro, who fouled Janine Sonis. It was effective, though, as Canada never took advantage of their set-pieces.
Other Factors: Young CANWNT Players Stepped Up
There are four players to note, including two from the Northern Super League, AFC Toronto’s Kaylee Hunter and Ottawa Rapid FC’s Delaney Brie Pridham (DB Pridham). There is also Brooklyn Courtnell, who currently plays for Bay FC in the NWSL.
There is also Annabelle Chukwu, a 19-year-old forward, who currently plays for the Notre Dame Fighting Fish and Ottawa South United.
The last player to discuss is Annabelle Chukwu, a 19-year-old forward who currently plays for the Notre Dame Fighting Fish and Ottawa South United. Some of her plays include:
- Created a scoring chance for Hunter, whose header was off target.
- She almost converted on the mistake by the Argentinian goalkeeper.
- She drew a corner for her team.
As for Hunter, she:
- Had a scoring chance thanks to a pass from Brooklyn Courtnall.
- Delivered a great pass to Pridham for a scoring opportunity.
- Made some plays in Argentina’s zone to maintain possession of the ball for Canada.
In addition, Sonis was on fire early in the game in terms of link-up play and getting players to scoring positions.
However, the question that still remains is their inability to capitalize on their scoring chances, with one example being a cross from Jessie Fleming, which was headed off target by Vanessa Gilles. Also, Canada did not look threatening at set-pieces, especially with their corners, which is something they can improve on.
READ MORE: Kaylee Hunter: Promising Canadian Teenager for AFC Toronto
Hunter talked about what it meant to start for the very first time for the national team, as she said this to Mackenzie Barwell of OneSoccer:
Hunter looked like one of Canada’s best players in the game. Her ability to make plays for her team, including creating scoring chances, shows a role she can fulfill. Only 18-years-old, there is a lot to like about Hunter and her future with the national team.
CANWNT Head Coach: Casey Stoney Talks About the Game
Meanwhile, this is what CANWNT/CANXNT head coach, Casey Stoney, said about Canada’s performance to Barwell of OneSoccer. She talked about controlling possession and being in control of the game, but said this was the biggest thing that needed to be improved upon:
This has been a question Canada has been trying to answer for a while. They did score four goals against Colombia in their 4-1 victory at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee. However, in the second and third games of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, Canada failed to score a goal against their opponents in regulation time.
READ MORE: 2026 CANWNT SheBelieves Cup Roster: Three NSL Forwards
Games Coming Up For the CANWNT/CANXNT
Hopefully, Canada comes up with a solution as they look to build for the 2026 Concacaf W Championship, which will be held from November to December 2026. This competition will be used to determine which nations qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and also to determine which nations might enter the inter-confederation play-offs.
Canada will likely have more competitive matches in April, June, and October, leading up to the 2026 Concacaf W Championship.
USWNT Wins the 2026 SheBelieves Cup
READ MORE: The USWNT’s Relentless Pressure Was A Big Reason for the Win
Congrats to the USWNT, who won the 2026 SheBelieves Cup. They only scored four goals in the tournament, but got the goals when it counted. This is especially true for their wins over Canada and Colombia, which were both one-goal games.
This is the USA’s eighth 2026 SheBelieves Cup victory in 11 years. Also, congrats to the USA’s Alyssa Thompson, who won the 2026 Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP.
Photo Credit: NC Courage X Account, of Kailen Sheridan, on March 7, 2026.
