3 local Team Canada U17 players are World Cup-bound following rousing qualifier comeback

By Pablo Medina

Molly Hale’s heart was pounding like never before. She’d just been tapped to take the pitch with Canada down a goal and its FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup life hanging in the balance.

Fellow Ottawa players Reese Kay and Mya Angus had lived through a similar experience once before, and they didn’t like the way it ended that time, having missed out on the Concacaf region’s final berth in last year’s World Cup with an extra-time defeat to Mexico.

“When I got called to go on, my heart rate started going pretty high,” Hale recalls. “I was nervous at first, but the second I got on the field, I was like, ‘I need to make an impact.’”

The Canadians had won their first two matches of the Concacaf qualifiers fairly comfortably – 5-0 over host Nicaragua and 2-0 over Panama – but they’d fallen behind 2-1 in the 57th minute in the deciding match against Puerto Rico.

Five minutes later, Team Canada coach Gary Moody substituted Hale in at winger to help turn the tide.

“We needed to score two goals,” recounts Hale. “I just wanted to make sure I was there, supporting the team, bringing as much energy as I can.”

In the 71st minute, Hale made a nifty move just outside the box and lofted a shot just over the net. Seconds later, her pressure forced a turnover that then led to Olivia Chisholm’s equalizing goal. Three minutes later, Canada struck again to take the lead and never gave it up, with Kay helping to repel any serious danger at centre-back.

Angus, who was previously a striker for much of her career, played as a defender in Canada’s first two matches but did not appear in the final game. With their win on Apr. 6, the Canadians clinched a berth in the Oct. 17-Nov. 8 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025.

“As far as a performance, it was resilience and heart personified,” Moody says of the final game via Canada Soccer. “It means the world to these players – especially those who experienced the heartache last time around, when they deserved to qualify.”

For Hale, the journey to the top levels of youth international soccer has been a little unconventional.

She started playing soccer at a very young age, and the beautiful game has always been an important part of her life. But Hale excelled in many other sports too – in ‘AA’ hockey with the Nepean Wildcats, and in basketball and running at Nepean High School, where she earned an OFSAA provincial cross-country silver medal with her team.

While many other top soccer players were starting to compete in the Ontario Player Development League, Hale joined the local Women’s Premier circuit at the age of just 13.

“It was a great experience to play with some of the players who were already professionals,” recalls the past Futuro Soccer Academy player. “It boosted my confidence and prepared me for bigger games.”

Hale enjoyed the flexibility she found in the Futuro program as she explored her athletic versatility. She ultimately landed on soccer as her primary pursuit and earned a spot at the National Development Centre in Toronto.

“Futuro was really accepting of my other commitments,” Hale notes. “And I still ended up getting a trial with the NDC, so it worked out perfectly.”

Hale has also secured a scholarship to play NCAA soccer with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins come fall 2026.

“UCLA’s team culture fits really well with me. They like to have their players express themselves, and that fits the way I play,” says Hale, who first has her eye on making her mark in Morocco.

“Obviously the big goal would be to win the World Cup,” she highlights. “But the goal for me is just to go there, work as hard as I can, and improve as much as I can before I get there.”

Redemption for returning local Team Canada pair

Getting the chance to play on the global stage will be particularly appreciated by Kay and Angus after missing out last year as U16-age players with the U17 Canadian side.

Kay was a key leader for Canada at this year’s Concacaf event, amassing the most touches and completed passes for her team in its final match.

“Obviously, if you’ve seen the game, I’m someone who likes to keep the ball and play through my midfielders,” Kay explains. “I’m very possession-based. If a through ball is on, I’ll play it, but I focus on holding possession to break down defences and create opportunities.”

Kay says that composure and an ability to read the game are critical attributes to succeed in her position, and she found that last year’s experience helped her stay cool come big moments.

“I’ve been in these situations before, and I know I can perform under pressure,” indicates the future Purdue University Boilermaker. “For me, I think it’s knowing my abilities and trusting in what I can do. I visualize before games and listen to the same music. It helps me settle in and be confident in myself.”

Kay began playing soccer at age four with Ottawa South United Soccer Club, and she stayed with the club until she joined the NDC. She celebrated a 2022 OPDL championship back at OSU with Angus, who scored at better than a goal per game pace during her U14 and U15 seasons in the provincial high-performance league.

“OSU has been such a great part of my development. The coaches have been incredibly supportive,” signals Kay, who loves having Angus at her side both on the pitch now as a fellow defender and away from it.

“We live together and have grown closer through the journey,” Kay adds. “We rely on each other a lot.”

Kay and Angus are both set to maintain OSU connections once they head abroad for NCAA soccer. Kay will join midfielder Bianca Hanisch at Purdue, while Angus will find fellow OSU product Ella Kettles with the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Kay is keen to help build team chemistry as best she can in advance of the U-17 World Cup in the fall.

“It’s all about continuing to perform and being the best teammate I can be,” she underlines. “Hard work pays off. Pushing through tough times has made me stronger both as a player and a person.”