World Cup dreams & friendship: The story of Canada’s Lindsay Agnew and Nichelle Prince

Football brings people together and creates friendships on and off the field that last a lifetime. This is the case of Lindsay Agnew and Nichelle Prince who are part of the Canadian National team, currently in France getting ready to battle for world supremacy at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Lindsay, who plays as a centre back and Nichelle, who is a forward, first met at the age of 16 when they were part of the U-17 Canada team. It was here that the two of them first shared their football dreams and hopes. Time passed but football reunited the two of them again at Ohio State University, where they became roommate teammates for one of the best college programs in the US.

Lindsay Agnew and Nichelle Prince during their time at Ohio State (photo courtesy of Lindsay Agnew).

Their successful college careers and their consistency in the youth systems of their home country (where they continued to play for the U-20 Canada team) got them the opportunity to become professional footballers in one of the best leagues in the planet. Nichelle and Lindsay were both drafted to play in the NWSL. Agnew was selected 19^th overall by the Washington Spirit whereas Prince was selected 28^thoverall by the Houston Dash, prior to the 2017 NWSL season.

Even though football separated the Ontario natives at the pro level, life would reunite the two friends again, this time in Texas.

In 2018 the Houston Dash acquired Lindsay from Washington via a trade. Since then, Agnew and Prince have been part of the Houston Dash roster. Both Lindsay and Nichelle have also been regular players on Canada’s senior team, ranked fifth in the world.

Playing together for the Dash and their national team have helped them to develop their game and support each other through life’s difficult times. Throughout it all, there has always been one clear goal in mind: helping Canada to win it all at the most important women’s soccer tournament in the world.

Now, they will have the opportunity to do so since they both were named to the final squad who are representing the Maple Leaf team in France. Placed in Group E, they will first need to get past the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Cameroon to advance to the Round of 16.

“This is a dream come true, being part of the World Cup Canada team roster.” Lindsay said when discussing the upcoming trip to France. “I’ve been playing soccer since age three, so it is a very special moment and it is great to share this experience with my best friend Nichelle.”

Nichelle also spoke of her excitement to be a part of this Canadian roster, “I admire so many players, like Christine Sinclair, and now going to the World Cup and playing with her, it is great.”

Creating friendships and sharing the passion for the sport is what football is about. While the story of these two Canadians is still being written, their dream of being in a World Cup representing their nation, is about to come true.

Canadian National Team players Lindsay Agnew and Nichelle Prince, also teammates on the Houston Dash in the NWSL (photo courtesy of Lindsay Agnew).

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