Marley Canales loves playing soccer. Her dream is to represent the USA on the National Team.
Playing soccer since she was in Kindergarten, Marley Canales plays for San Diego Surf Soccer Club and was identified by US Soccer, thru Cal South ODP team and Region IV team at the age of 12. She has been a part of the US U14, U15 and now the US U 17 National Team. Canales has also just been awarded NSCAA’s 2013 All America Player. Recently Canales met her soccer idol Mia Hamm.
Colin Chesters, Director of Coaching for San Diego Surf SC said, “Marley Canales is the hardest working player we have ever had since U.S. National Team star defender, Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke. It is no coincidence they have both been given the honor of captaining a national team. She relishes working hard and has over the years spent numerous extra hours improving her game. Marley is an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you join Sand Diego Surf SC?
Marley Canales: I joined Surf Soccer Club almost 3 years ago. Before Surf SC I played at PQ Premier since I was 5 years old.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who has coached you?
Marley Canales: My coaches have been Colin Chesters, Jimmy Murphy, and Ada Greenwood.
Diane Scavuzzo: What team are you on now?
Marley Canales: I am on the U17 ECNL Team and I have been called up for the U17 US National Team coached by BJ Snow.
Diane Scavuzzo: How has Surf SC helped develop you?
Marley Canales: Along with the great coaching staff and the players I am surrounded by each day it has helped me continue to develop as a player by being challenged every step of the way.
Diane Scavuzzo: What did you think when you discovered you were to be on the Roster for the National Team?
Marley Canales: When I first made the National Team, it was a great feeling knowing that all my hard work had paid off and that I would be able to play with the best players in the nation. But at the same time I knew the hard work had just begun and nothing was going to stand in the way of my goals and dreams.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you dream of being a professional soccer player?
Marley Canales: My dream to be a professional soccer player started at a very young age and to this day it is still one of my top goals. I hope to play soccer all of my life and when in college. I have verbally committed to UCLA.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who is your role model?
Marley Canales: My role model is my sister Miranda Canales; she has shown me how to chase your dreams, stay humble about everything, and to take advantage of every opportunity.
Canales’ family is very proud of their daughter’s accomplishments. Rudy Canales said,” We are very proud of Marley not only for playing soccer at a high level. We are proud of her for being such a caring young lady with very lofty goals in her life. Marley’s dream is to represent the full U.S. National Team and that is what drives her to work hard.”
What is next for Canales?
U.S. Soccer will host the 2014 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational from Feb. 5-9 in Carson, Calif., and feature U-17 Women’s National Teams from the United States, China PR, Japan and New Zealand. All the matches will be staged on Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Each of the match days – Feb. 5, 7 and 9 – will feature a doubleheader with the USA playing the second game of the day.
The winner of the competition will be based on total points with the first tiebreakers being overall goal differential and then total goals scored.
U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow has called in 24 players for the tournament, 17 of whom were on the USA’s qualifying team. Twenty of the players were born in 1997 or 1998, while four were born in 1999. This will be the last event for the ’97s and ’98s as U-17s before transitioning to the U-18s and U-20s. The ’99s will become the primary age group for the U-17s as they start preparations for qualifying for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Marley Canales is one of seven Midfielders on the team.
Chesters said, “Surf SC provides extra training opportunities for our National team players. This can include training with older teams as well as small group shooting clinics or position specific training with an Assistant Director of Coaching or myself.”
“We always receive feedback from National Team coaches at the end of a camp or series of training and games.”
“After reviewing this feedback, we provide our Youth National Team players with specific training to address any areas needed and to enhance their performance for the next opportunity,” said Chesters.
