The prodigal daughter returns home... wait a second let me rephrase that one... Mrs. Bunbury returns home. I doubt they are dating let alone married, but for the sake of this article we will lump them together. Sydney LeRoux was born and raised in Surrey, BC. She was developed in OUR youth set up and once the opportunity came knocking she chose to play for the USWNT at the U-20 level and then received her first full international cap this past January vs. Sweden in the Four Nations cup.
LeRoux is a dynamic player up front, her university goal scoring statistics point to her uncanny ability to put up big numbers against the top domestic players in her own age group. Since the fall of 2008, Sydney has played with the UCLA in the NCAA Division 1. She led the Bruins in 2010 with 13 goals and 27 points. The year previous she tied a single-season school record with 23 goals and was in the running for the MAC Hermann Trophy. In her first campaign at UCLA, she started in all but 1 of her 19 appearances. Basically what I'm getting at is that since she's done really well for herself since joining the Bruins and has continued on her path to success ever since. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Sydney's potential was clear from a young age, she was in fact the youngest player to suit up for the Whitecaps Women's full Sr. Squad, having accomplished the feat at a mere 15 years and 7 days. That's pretty impressive when you look at some of the other players who have come up through the club's system on the men's or the women's side. Her debut was back in 2005, and it sounds like she has developed into a solid goal scoring machine since then.
LeRoux scored 30 goals in 36 appearances with the US U-20 National Side and that makes her the most capped and highest scoring player for them in that age category. It should turn out to be an valuable signing for the 'Caps as they look to return to top position in USL -W League this year. It will also turn out be a slight loss for the National Women's Team, lucky for us we're fairly solid upfront. I can't wait to find out what forced her to decide against playing for Canada.
While I doubt that her choice to turn Yank is of the same magnitude as the decision of Mr. Bunbury, or even the potential decision of Junior Hoilett, it should still draw the same emotional response to anyone who bleeds red and white.
With all the players from last years squad who are currently in camp with our National Squad her presence will be invaluable. What do you think about this whole deal? Are you a little disappointed to see yet another young star switch passports? Are you just flat out happy to know that despite her current national status the 'Caps women are clearly showing that they mean business this year?