Canadian goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo says players are closer than ever, despite Olympic spying scandal

Amid a drone spying scandal involving Canada Soccer coaches at the Paris Olympics, Team Canada goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelosays the players have become closer and more determined than ever.

"It's been a special week," D'Angelo, who hails from Welland, Ont., told CBC Hamilton on Friday, two days after the team's win against Colombia that sent them to Saturday's quarterfinals.

"The unexpected happened and we were devastated, frustrated, angry... I think it's brought out the best in us in a really bad situation."

Just as theOlympics began in late July, the team learned that headcoach BevPriestman and two staff members were implicated inspying on other teams and suspended, whileCanada's women's team was stripped ofsix points.

That meant the team needed to win threestraight victoriesto earn the necessary points tosurvive the group stage.

Player Vanessa Gilles told Radio-Canada earlier this week the players had been too upset to sleep or eat as the news came out.

But they pulled it off, beating New Zealand 2-1,France 2-1,and, on Wednesday, Colombia 1-0.

"At the end of the day, we knew we came in here with the objective to come out [to win] as a group and that's what we did regardless of everything that happened off the field," D'Angelo said.

"Obviously the emotions were heightened but the team did incredible and it was amazing."

D'Angelo signs with Aston Villa

Just before thegame against Colombia, D'Angelo learned othernews. She's been signed with the Women's Super League team,Aston Villa, in the U.K., leaving Arsenal in London, where she'd been since 2023.

"When they told me, I was like, 'there's too many things going on.' I can't appreciate this moment right now," she said, smiling.

D'Angelogrew up in the Niagara Region with dreams of being a goalkeeper like her dad, who was also her first coach. She worked her way through the youth national team program before she attended and played for the University of South Carolina, in the U.S.Before her time with Arsenal, she spent four years with Sweden's Vittsjo GIK.

WATCH | SabrinaD'Angelocompares her Olympic experiences:

Canadian goalkeeper compares this Olympic experience to her last ahead of big game

3 months ago

Duration 0:44

Sabrina D'Angelo, from Welland, Ont., is playing for the Canadian women's soccer team at the Paris Olympics.

D'Angelo also was part of team that won bronze medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

One of her motivations in Paris is to show young Canadian soccer playerswhat's possible.

"If a normal person from Welland Ontario is representing her country at the Olympics, it's possible for anybody," D'Angelo said.

Before the game Saturday, D'Angelo said she'll ground herself with her usual ritual, by wearing her "lucky"necklace with pendants from her grandparents, parents and partner, some of whom will be in France to watch Saturday's game.

"I will give it a little kiss and then put it away," she said. "It's my way of knowing they're with me."