ST. JOHN’S, Canada— Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé witnessed plenty of firsts in a Canadian jersey at last month’s SheBelieves Cup despite her decade of previous experience between the posts for the national team.
The tournament opener against the Americans marked Canada’s first appearance in the competition as well as the official beginning of the Bev Priestman era, with the 34-year-old managing her first match since being appointed last October.
While Labbé and her teammates already had plenty of enthusiasm going into the game against the U.S — their first real action in nearly a calendar year — getting the first opportunity to work in-person with Priestman made it that much more exciting.