Veteran Kyle not done collecting caps
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM: Midfielder reduced to substitute role, but insists she has few years left in the tank
Kaylyn Kyle watches the Canadian women’s soccer team from afar these days.
One of four alternates to the Olympic team, the 27-year-old midfielder from Saskatoon is not likely to add to her 101 caps this summer unless called upon due to injury or some other emergency.
Kyle was a fixture for Canada from 2011 to 2014, playing in 62 consecutive matches.
But she was one of several veterans who did not get a recall after last summer’s World Cup.
She clearly wants to resume her national team career, but is not complaining. “Obviously, it’s disappointing to not be selected part of the 18(-woman roster) for the Olympics, but I’m going to support the team and anything they need as an alternate,” she said.
“I don’t think I’m done playing for Canada at all. I think I still have a few more years left in me. It’s just keep working hard here and keep performing with my club so I can get called back in.”
While fellow alternates Gabrielle Carle, Marie-Eve Nault and Kailen Sheridan are with John Herdman’s team in France for its final pre-Olympic preparations, Kyle remained in North America to continue playing with the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League.
“It just didn’t make sense for her to give up her pro career with Orlando,” said Herdman.
Nault missed the Canadian camp in Vancouver earlier this month, but joined the team in France after her season in Sweden ended. Carle (unattached) and Sheridan (Clemson University) were both part of the Vancouver camp.
Kyle, who has stayed in contact with Herdman via Skype and has had access to his tactical plans, is grateful for the chance to keep playing with the Pride.
“If needed and called upon, I can go into camp game-fit and gameready instead of kind of just being like a practice player right now,” she said. “I think it was incredible of John to allow me to do that and allow me to stay game-fit. He knows how I am as a person and as a player, obviously.”
Kyle is hoping for a recall some time in the future.
“Obviously, I would love to get called back in at some point,” she said. “But I also have to respect John’s decision in bringing in younger girls and developing them. Obviously, our World Cup and how we went out (in the quarter-finals), if I’m being completely honest I think we could have gone farther, so he knew that he needed to change a few personnel and give younger players a chance to develop.
“He’s such a smart coach and he has a plan. A lot of coaches will plan for the year and he plans for the fouryear cycle. He knows how I am as a person and a player and what I can bring to the field and to the team.”
In the meantime, Kyle is enjoying her time in Orlando. Acquired last October in a trade with Portland, she has played in 11 games for the 6-7-0 Pride in their inaugural season.
She says Orlando feels like home these days.
“I love it ... I think we’re doing very well for an expansion team,” said Kyle, whose club career has also included stops in Vancouver, Seattle, Boston and Houston. “This organization is class.”
Orlando teammate Josee Belanger is currently with the Canadian team in France.
The move to Orlando reunited Kyle and Belanger with veteran coach Tom Sermanni, whose resume includes stints in charge of Australia and the U.S., as well as an assistant coaching role under Herdman at the World Cup.
The whole team felt the pain of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, visiting local hospitals in the aftermath, she said.
“It’s obviously been sad to be part of, but I’m very proud to live and work in Orlando now,” said Kyle.
An entrepreneur off the field, Kyle has worked with headphone manufacturer Beats by Dre, Under Armour and Golazo, an organic drink company based in Seattle.
Her most recent endeavour is a soccer camp, scheduled for six cities in Canada this fall. She and her sister Courtnee have also started up a travel and fashion blog (theeditby.com).
“Two blonds, one blog, endless opportunities,” is their summary of the blog.