What comes to mind when you think of Portugal?
Perhaps it's the sun-kissed beaches or the historic sights of Lisbon, but for many others, is its soccer-crazy streets that produced, arguably, one of the most recognizable characters in Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now, a Coquitlam product is set to make the transatlantic journey to her family's home country in hopes of making a name for herself, having already done so especially in the last two years on Canadian soil.
Sophia Ferreira has been invited by Portuguese national team coaches to train with the under-23 women's squad this month as part of the program's development.
And the 19-year-old Centennial Secondary alumna will see some action on the pitch as "Quinas" is scheduled to face fellow football powerhouses England and Sweden.
Ferreira, a Canada West champion and MVP with the UBC Thunderbirds, was one of 22 players that received an invitation to the prestigious camp — one of three that currently play in North America.
UBC finished fifth at nationals this past season, but the former Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club member rallied the team to a 16th conference title in school history.
On defence, Ferreira helped backstop the T-Birds to a 2-1 gold-medal victory over Trinity Western and even recorded an assist on, what would ultimately be, the game-winner early in the match.
It was the eighth full 90-minute appearance of the campaign for the second-year kinesiology student, which also included her first-career collegiate goal, as well as three assists, 12 shots on offense and all-star honours.
Portugal's under-23 women's team is set to train for three games before its first match against England at Marinha Grande — roughly 140 km north of Lisbon.
The red and green Navigators will square up with Sweden on April 10 in Leiria.
