Canada midfielder gets a kick out of inspiring girls
Matheson has become an icon in soccer, and she’s happy to ‘embrace that role’
Diana Matheson was mobbed Saturday by those she inspires most.
The Canadian women’s national team midfielder was a special guest of FC Edmonton and was on hand to watch the local North American Soccer League team defeat the Indy Eleven 2-1 before a full house of nearly 4,000 at Clarke Stadium.
A few hundred lucky girls had the opportunity to have photos taken with the two-time Olympic bronze medallist at halftime.
“This was all FC Edmonton’s initiative — the girls in soccer weekend — and they wanted a national team player to come in and show the girls a role model, and someone whose been able to make it through soccer, and I was available this weekend and happy to come to Edmonton,” Matheson said. “It’s always a great soccer city, and it’s always great to meet kids in this community.”
Matheson, 33, has been a member of the Canadian national team since 2003. She has made 169 appearances for her country and scored 16 goals. Her biggest came in the bronze-medal game of the 2012 London Olympics, giving Canada a 1-0 victory over France.
It was in London that the women’s national team won the hearts of the country, battling back to claim the bronze after a heartbreaking loss to the United States in the semifinal.
“There’s kind of the before-London reality of the national team and the after reality,” Matheson said. “The attention we were able to get after London is incredible, and for those of us who were around before, (we) appreciate it more that people care, and we really embrace that role to be able to affect young kids coming up.”
In her time with the national team, Matheson has become one of the faces of women’s soccer in Canada, along with Christine Sinclair. Their performance on the international stage has inspired young Canadians.
“Girls’ participation in soccer was growing before us. It’s already the top participation sport in Canada,” Matheson said. “I think the next step is for girls to stay involved longer in sports. The dropout rates for girls are still higher than boys, and then it’s about getting them more in leadership roles in soccer or in the community — whatever it is, get them involved in that cycle of them inspiring that next generation.”
When not with the national team, Matheson plays for the Seattle Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. Matheson spent the previous four seasons with the Washington Spirit, scoring four goals in 67 games.
She has yet to make an appearance for Seattle as she is recovering from a knee injury.
Seattle is considered one of the best soccer cities in the United States and its MLS team, the defending league-champion Seattle Sounders, routinely sell out games.
Matheson is hoping to achieve similar success with the Reign.
“I hear the Sounders crowds are incredible — we need a bit more trickle down to the women’s game,” Matheson said. “I expected more, because Seattle is a great soccer crowd, but they’re still tapping into the fans a little bit.”
Matheson is hoping women’s professional soccer may one day expand into Canada, which would provide another boost for the game.
Throughout her career, the product of Mississauga, Ont., has continually seen growth in the women’s game.
“For sure, the growth from when I started my career to now is huge in terms of recognition, fan support,” she said. “And financially, it’s growing year by year.”
The drop-out rates for girls are still higher than boys, and then it’s about getting them more in leadership roles in soccer or in the community.