Veteran midfielder Desiree Scott set for international farewell in Winnipeg hometown

Canada's Desiree Scott celebrates at the end of a women's soccer match against Chile at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Sapporo, Japan. Canada won 2-1. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Veteran midfielder Desiree Scott, in her international swansong, leads the Canadian roster for a pair of international friendlies against Haiti in the May/June FIFA international window.

The 37-year-old Scott will call time on her international career May 31 in her hometown of Winnipeg. After the game at Princess Auto Stadium, seventh-ranked Canada will host No. 51 Haiti on June 3 at Montreal's Stade Saputo.

Scott will just feature in the Winnipeg contest.

"This game is for Desi," said Canada coach Casey Stoney. "It's what she deserves. To celebrate someone who's had such a legacy within the game, that's given so much to Canadian soccer. And so much to the game herself."

"I've never ever heard anyone say anything but positive things about her as a person, character and a player," she added. "So for us to be able to celebrate her and give her that moment to be able to walk off the field as a legend in my eyes, it's going to be a very, very special night."

Scott, known as "The Destroyer" for her ability to break up opposition attacks, has earned 187 caps dating back to February 2010. She will continue to play club football for Ottawa Rapid of the Northern Super League.

Scott is one of three NSL players on Stoney's roster. The others are midfielder Emma Regan (AFC Toronto) and forward Holly Ward (Vancouver Rise FC).

Seventeen of the 24 players were also on the roster for last month’s two-game series against Argentina, which Canada split — winning 3-0 on April 4 in Vancouver before falling 1-0 on April 8 in Langford, B.C.

Simi Awujo, Jordyn Huitema, Olivia Smith and Evelyne Viens return from injury while Marie Levasseur gets her first call-up to the senior squad since 2022. The 27-year-old defender from Stoneham, Que., who plays in France for Montpellier, has 10 caps already.

Unavailable through injury are Kadeisha Buchanan, Jayde Riviere, Cloey Lacasse and Sydney Collins. Stoney also said Bianca St-Georges was not called in because she was "touch and go on fitness."

There is a first senior call-up for Zara Chavoshi, a 22-year-old Orlando Pride defender who is a former Canadian youth international.

"It's an opportunity to bring somebody in that's playing, I believe, at the highest level," said Stoney. "We need to include depth in the centre back area."

Chavoshi's father and mother emigrated from Iran and Vietnam, respectively, and met in Canada. Chavoshi, who was born in the United States and played collegiate soccer at Wake Forest, has dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship.

While Chavoshi was called into camp in March by the U.S. under-23 team, Stoney said the player wants to stick with Canada.

Stoney's squad also includes 19-year-old Michigan State midfielder Kayla Briggs, who made her senior debut in the loss to Argentina.

Earlier Tuesday, Angel City FC announced that veteran defender Vanessa Gilles has been transferred to Germany's Bayern Munich. Gilles, who has 51 Canada caps, spent the last three seasons on loan to France's Lyon.

The 29-year-old from Ottawa will join the German side when her loan period expires July 1.

Canada has won all three previous meetings with Haiti, most recently in a 6-0 victory in 2012 in CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying play in Vancouver.

Haiti went winless in its World Cup debut in 2023, finishing fourth in its group after losses to England (1-0), China (1-0) and Denmark (2-0). The tournament followed a long qualifying campaign that saw Haiti beat Senegal (4-0) and Chile (2-1) in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs in New Zealand in February 2023, joining Portugal and Panama in moving on from the 10-team qualifying tournament.

"They've got some exceptional players," said Stoney

Top of the list is 21-year-old Melchie Dumornay, a midfielder who plays for Lyon. Dumornay, who debuted as a Haiti youth international at the age of 12, won the Golden Boot at the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship with 14 goals.

"A world-class talent," said Stoney.

Dumornay won the Best Young Player Award and was named to the Best XI at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship where Haiti posted a 3-0 win over Mexico, sandwiched around losses to the U.S. (3-0) and Jamaica (4-0). The third-place finish in the group earned Haiti a spot in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.

Veteran forward Roselord Borgella plays her club football in Turkey for Fenerbahçe. Nérilia Mondésir is a teammate of Huitema with the NWSL Seattle Reign, while fellow forward Sherly Jeudy plays for French second-tier side Lens.

There is Canadian content as well with Montreal defender Roxanne Vilain (West Virginia University) and 18-year-old goalkeeper Mahe-Lee Caron (Western Illinois), a Haitian youth international who was born in Canada to a Haitian mother and Canadian father.

Haiti is coached by 28-year-old Malou Quignette of France, a former assistant who took over the head job in September.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo, Aston Villa (England); Lysianne Proulx, Juventus (Italy); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave (NWSL).

Defenders: Gabrielle Carle, Washington Spirit (NWSL);  Zara Chavoshi, Orlando Pride (NWSL); Vanessa Gilles, Olympique Lyonnais (France); Ashley Lawrence, Chelsea (England); Marie Levasseur, Montpellier HSC (France); Jade Rose, Harvard University (NCAA); Shelina Zadorsky, West Ham United (England).

Midfielders: Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Portland Thorns (NWSL); Jessie Fleming, Portland Thorns FC (NWSL); Simi Awujo, Manchester United (England); Kayla Briggs, Michigan State University (NCAA); Julia Grosso, Chicago Red Stars (NWSL); Emma Regan, AFC Toronto (NSL); Desiree Scott, Ottawa Rapid FC (NSL).

Forwards: Jordyn Huitema, Seattle Reign FC (NWSL); Adriana Leon, San Diego Wave FC (NWSL); Nichelle Prince, Kansas City Current (NWSL); Olivia Smith, Liverpool (England); Janine Sonis, Racing Louisville FC (NWSL); Evelyne Viens, AS Roma; Holly Ward, Vancouver Rise FC (NSL).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press