WILSON: Maturity, composure beyond her years makes Riviere a long-term lock for CanWNT
TORONTO – In a squad with talent ranging from 20 years old to 39, the Canadian Women's National Team presents a unique balance. Now as the program continues its transition to the next generation, a few current players are already indicating that this team will be left in good hands for years to come.
One of those players is Jayde Riviere.
The quiet and reserved 21-year-old is one of the youngest in Bev Priestman's squad but plays a loud role on the pitch as her explosive, calculated skills make her appear like a seasoned veteran.
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Mature is not a strong enough word to describe her demeanour despite just entering her final year at the University of Michigan. But when asked about her importance in the squad, Riviere remains humble.
"I think I've grown into the role of letting go that you're one of the youngest on the team," Riviere told OneSoccer, ahead of the CanWNT's Concacaf W Championship final vs. the USWNT.
"I like to let what I do on the field dictate everything. So age is definitely not a deciding factor when it comes to starting or getting caps under your belt.
"... but it has its perks, you know? Being one of the youngest on the team. You definitely don't feel like it in an atmosphere like this. It's very inclusive, regardless if you're 21 or if you're 30."
Riviere’s been exhibiting her promise during the current camp, too, as the national team continues their hunt for the CONCACAF Women’s Championship title and another Olympic berth.
She’s the only player 21 or younger to earn more than one starting position (three) totalling 268 minutes of action. Her quiet character falls wayside on the pitch where she instead exudes a profound confidence, aids both the defence and the attack and is not afraid to try something daring like mixing in a Cruyff turn.
She admits she has grown as a player since her debut in 2017.
"I [can] tell the difference from when I was starting off with the team versus now being able to get a couple more games under my belt and like I said, get that confidence from my teammates and the coach.
"It only helps on the field because the only thing you got to think about is just doing what you do best instead of worrying about starting, or how many minutes am I going to play. I think that this team does really well in terms of putting that aside and allowing, players to be who they are on the field and I'm glad that that shows that there's a confidence about it.
"At the end of the day, it works out for us when everyone is at their best."
How she reached this point with only 35 caps to her name? Plenty of guidance from her fellow teammates.
"Our team is actually really unique in the way that everyone can kind of talk to anyone. There's no real barrier between age, how long have you been on the team, or how many caps you have on the team.
"Chappy [Allysha Chapman] has taken me under her wing when I was a winger, kind of paved the path for me in terms of becoming a fullback. And Ashley [Lawrence] is someone who I look up to on the flank, and I kind of mimic a little bit of how she plays, or at least I've tried to," she said, with a laugh.
GOAL 🇲🇶
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Between learning from CANWNT veterans, playing against top-tier teams, and featuring in an Olympics and a World Cup, Riviere has grown as a player but also as a person with noticeable leadership skills.
Her maturity, composure and willingness to carry responsibility proves she is carving herself a spot as a future undisputed player for Canada.
Her next challenge? Captaining her college team – a role she was voted into and did not expect to have.
"To know that my teammates voted for me to be captain holds a special place in my heart and it doesn't just come from the coaches," she said. "It comes from the players behind you, the players that are on the field with you, that you see every day.
"I was pleasantly surprised by it. I was shocked by it. I didn't know that my teammates saw me in that way. So it was really heartwarming to know that they voted for myself."
Captaining Canada one day is not necessarily off the table either.
"It's not something I've looked at specifically. I think I have a lot of growing to do in order to even get close to doing that," she said.
But until the fall season kicks off in the NCAA, Riviere and her national teammates prepare for their most important match of the year on Monday – the final against the United States.
"Mentality stays the same as it has throughout the whole tournament which is we want to qualify for the Olympics … and I think that's the goal at hand," she said.
"We obviously know the U.S. well I'd say now, and we have this bicker back and forth with them. But I think everyone's ready, everyone's mindset is prepared for it."
On an individual note, Riviere hopes to continue radiating the same poise she has been all tournament and step up for Priestman if handed another opportunity.
"I've been kind of proud of how I've been performing … the confidence piece is something that I've learned to kind of take on. So being able to show confidence on the pitch, being involved in the attack, being ruthless in the defence.
"I would say those are the main things that I'd want to bring to the game and hopefully help my team qualify for the Olympics."
