 "Photo: File Photo")
Some college students spend their summer break studying abroad in a foreign country. Women’s soccer player Bry McCarthy did just that, in a unique way.
McCarthy, a sophomore forward for the West Virginia women’s soccer team, played for the Canadian Women’s National Team this summer. She’s traveling the world to face other international competitors.
"It’s just an unbelievable opportunity for her," said West Virginia head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. "You can’t help but be excited and proud of her."
The sophomore’s world-wide debut took place in Hamar, Norway against the Norwegian National squad. McCarthy not only entered the match, but played the full 90 minutes to help Canada earn a 1-1 tie.
"I think McCarthy played very well," said Canadian coach Carolina Morace on CanadaSoccer.com. "She looked like a veteran on the field today."
Naturally a forward, a position she has held during her first season at WVU, McCarthy played much of the match at outside defensive back. The switch to a defensive position is something Izzo-Brown will not rule out entering a fresh season.
"She has the talent to play across the field," she said. "We used her in the backfield on some occasions last year, and we can probably do it this year too."
McCarthy made an impact during her inaugural campaign as a Mountaineer.
Getting a starting nod right away, Izzo-Brown admitted she saw something special out of the Ajax, Ontario native.
"She is a fun player to watch and we saw that she can make an impact right away," the 15-year coaching veteran said. "Come next year she will be one of our better players."
The sophomore had a solid freshman campaign to build upon for the forthcoming 2010 season. She played in all 23 games in 2009, while starting in 12 of those contests.
McCarthy has a strong knack for getting to the ball and can fool defenders thanks to her size and speed. She scored three goals on 30 shots in 2009 and ended the year with seven points.
McCarthy has represented Canada before, though. In 2008, she was a team captain on the CONCACAF Women’s U-17 team which won the bronze medal. McCarthy was the lone team captain on the squad.
A couple of years before that, in 2006 McCarthy led her team to a gold medal championship at the U-16 Girls All-Star Selects.
Her track record of success, honors and accolades landed her a scholarship at WVU, Izzo-Brown said. She has long recruited in Canada bringing in a slew of players south to the United States.
The connections McCarthy made with former Mountaineers Nicole Mailloux and Amanda Cicchini allowed her to make a rather smooth transition to West Virginia.
Her teammate and roommate Caroline Szwed was also part of last year’s freshmen class. Szwed is a native of Oakville, Ontario.
"You’re starting to see more Canadian players come into the States to play soccer, because they don’t have anywhere else to go," Izzo-Brown said. "It just makes a lot of sense for those athletes to continue their careers here, because there aren’t a lot of other opportunities outside of the national level."
Izzo-Brown brought in another girl from Canada to round out the incoming freshman class. A defender from Quebec City, Quebec, Marialye Laramee-Trottier will hunt for playing time once camp opens later this month.
Laramee-Trottier has a long line of Canadian-born Mountaineers to look up to for guidance throughout her career.
She can look no further than McCarthy who has literally been around the world and back.
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