By Canadian Press

New AFC Toronto midfielder Cloey Uddenberg played her part in Canada soccer history

Nov 28, 2024 | 9:11 AM

TORONTO — Midfielder Cloey Uddenberg, AFC Toronto’s latest recruit to the new Northern Super League, comes with a resume that includes successful stops at the University of Guelph, South Alabama and Purdue, as well as an award-winning stint in League1 Ontario.

And, wearing the colours of St. Kitts and Nevis internationally, the 22-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., also played her part in Canadian soccer history.

Uddenberg was on the field for St. Kitts in Edinburg, Texas, for an 11-0 loss to Canada in January 2020 when Christine Sinclair scored goals No. 184 and 185 to pass retired American Abby Wambach and become the world’s all-time leading goal-scorer (the Canada captain eventually retired on 190 goals).

She says the moment hit her when the whistle blew for the start of the game at the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.

“I was like ‘Wow, these are players that I’ve always aspired to play with or play against and I’m achieving one dream of mine,'” said Uddenberg, who was 17 at the time. “It was interesting because there’s a part of you that wants to play for Canada because that’s where I’m from, but I also had an opportunity that has shaped me into the person and player I am today because it wasn’t an easy game. But it made me who I am and that experience I’ll always be grateful for.”

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Adding to the experience that day was that sisters Carley, then 19, and Kayla, then 14, also made it onto the pitch against Canada.

“My family is very important to me and we’re very much a soccer family,” said Cloey Uddenberg. “Being able to play at the highest level with my sisters was just a very proud moment for my family and for my parents. And to be able to play for my dad’s side’s home country and to do it with my sisters, it was a feeling I can’t really describe.”

The sisters are eligible to play for St. Kitts, currently ranked 137th in the world, through their paternal grandparents.

The Sugar Girlz were making their first-ever appearance at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifier after winning their Caribbean qualifying group.

The six-team NSL is set to begin play in April, with other franchises in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

Uddenberg is AFC Toronto’s fourth signing, joining fellow Canadians Jade Kovacevic and Leah Pais and American Croix Soto.

She started her university career at Guelph where she was named U Sports Rookie of the Year and earned second team all-Canadian honours in 2021 after missing out on the 2020 season due to the pandemic. She was a first-team OUA all-star in 2022.

Wanting to test herself further, she transferred to the University of South Alabama in 2023 and helped the Jaguars to an undefeated 16-0-3 season before falling 1-0 to James Madison in the Sun Belt Conference semifinals.

“That was an amazing opportunity … I just grew as a player,” she said.

The following year, she followed head coach Richard Moodie to Purdue where she started 17 games as a senior.

Along the way, she turned heads in three seasons with Simcoe Count Rovers in League1 Ontario, where she earned back-to-back all-star honours and was named 2023 Midfielder of the Year.

Uddenberg is a ball-winning midfielder who also likes moving up the field.

“Cloey has excelled at mastering the fundamentals, an often underrated yet essential quality in professional football,” AFC head coach Marko Milanovic said in a statement. “Her versatility and relentless work ethic will elevate our team’s performance, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her on board.”

Uddenberg, who is second-oldest among four sisters with Kenley the youngest, is tickled pink to be able to play in her backyard.

“It’s pretty exciting. I never thought I’d be able to start my pro journey here because there’s never been a league. So I always kind of prepared myself to move away from home … I never thought I’d be able to play the pro level in Canada. Now I can.”

Off the field, she graduated from Guelph with a degree in biological science.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2024.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press