The Destroyer is back — probably with a bang

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/02/2021 (2010 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After nearly a year’s absence, “The Destroyer” is finally making her return to the pitch. 

Winnipeg’s Desiree Scott is one of more than 30 players in Orlando, Fla., training with the Canadian senior women’s soccer team in preparation for the 2021 SheBelieves Cup, a tournament featuring the United States, Brazil, and Argentina that kicks off next Thursday. 

Scott, a 33-year-old veteran midfielder who’s expected to crack the final roster which will be announced days before kickoff, hasn’t appeared in a match since a 2-2 draw against Brazil on March 10, 2020. Due to family reasons, she opted out of last summer’s NWSL Challenge Cup with her club team Utah Royals FC. She also declined to participate in the NWSL Fall Series. Her rights have been transferred to Kansas City, an NWSL expansion team.

“It’s really been a long time coming to get on a field with other people,” Scott told reporters Friday from Florida in a Zoom call. “So the first (Canada) team meeting, we walked in and I just got teary-eyed because I’ve really missed being in the environment and in that team aspect of things.”

Scott won’t exactly be able to ease back into things as the Canadians open the tournament against their longtime rivals, the Americans. Canada will then play Argentina on Feb. 21 followed by Brazil on Feb. 24.

“What a way to start the year off after not being together for a year. We can come into this camp and make a ton of excuses, but for us, it’s about the opportunity that we have ahead of us,” said Scott.

“You’re playing the No. 1 team. Anytime we play them, it’s always a gritty battle, so we’re looking forward to using that as a measuring stick to gauge where we’re at after not being together for a year. But also looking at it as an opportunity to shine, see where we’re at, show what we’ve got and build on that through the rest of the tournament.”

The Feb. 24 tilt against Brazil will mark the 11-year anniversary of Scott making her debut on the Canadian senior women’s team. She first appeared for the Red and White against Switzerland at the Cyprus Cup on the exact same date back in 2010 and has gone on to earn 157 caps, winning a pair of Olympic bronze medals along the way (2012 and 2016).

“Later in your life, as your career is starting to wind down, you take more time to reflect on where you’ve been and what you’ve done,” she said.

“I just have immense feelings of gratefulness to still be here after that long. It speaks to what this team is and who they’ve become — my family. They’ve been my life, this team. It’s just a joy to be here.”

This tournament will also mark the first time Scott suits up for new head coach Bev Priestman. Priestman, a 34-year-old from England, most recently coached England’s under-18 national women’s team. She was also previously an assistant coach on the Canadian senior women’s squad. Priestman was hired back in October.

“I don’t think she’s going to come in and overhaul everything,” Scott said.

“But she’s just given us new ways to think about some of the small tactical things that we’ve already been doing. Allowing us to get a lot more competitiveness within training sessions. Nothing is given. You’ve got to earn that and I think she’s really pushing that aspect in training.”

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While Scott has been out of action for a while, she’s been able to find ways to stay fit while back home in Winnipeg. She credited Canadian strength and conditioning coach Cesar Meylan for helping her get creative with her workouts.

“He’s given me a program that has adapted to the snow, being on my own in my basement. I invested in a treadmill and dumbbells and he’s kind of just adapted my program to that. I’ll work off a wall in my basement,” she said.

“I was a bit nervous coming into camp to see where I’m at. Nothing can replicate being on the field. But I’ve been good so far. I’m still standing.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.