Cloé Lacasse
Cloé Zoé Eyja Lacasse (born July 7, 1993) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Portuguese club Benfica in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino club and the Canada national team.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Cloé Zoé Eyja Lacasse | ||
Date of birth | July 7, 1993 | ||
Place of birth | Sudbury, Ontario, Canada | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Benfica | ||
Number | 20 | ||
Youth career | |||
Sudbury Canadians | |||
2010 | Brampton Brams United | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2014 | Iowa Hawkeyes | 85 | (42) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2012 | Toronto Lady Lynx | ||
2015–2019 | ÍBV | 79 | (54) |
2019– | Benfica | 74 | (70) |
International career‡ | |||
2021– | Canada | 19 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 7, 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 11, 2023 |
Early life
Lacasse began playing soccer at age five with the Sudbury Canadians before moving on to Brampton Brams United in 2010.[1][2] She helped her high school team with the provincial OFSAA championship twice.[3][4][5] In her youth, she made the national team for taekwondo, where she is a black belt, before deciding to focus solely on soccer at age 12.[6][7]
College career
Lacasse began attending the University of Iowa, where she played for the women's soccer team on a scholarship.[8][9] In her freshman season in 2011, she led the team in scoring with 12 goals, appearing in all 20 of the team's games,[10] also being named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice,[11][12][13] and was named the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player and to the Big Ten All Freshman Team.[10] In 2012, she was named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region second team[14] and was the co-winner of Iowa’s Most Valuable Player award and was named team’s Offensive Player of the Year again.[10] In 2013, she was a Second-team All-Big Ten selection and a Second Team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region selection.[10] In her senior season, she was named to the All Big Ten First Team[15][16] and was also a First Team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region, First Team All-Big Ten, was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team, and was named Iowa’s Offensive MVP for a fourth straight season.[10] Lacasse was the school's top scorer during all her four seasons there.[17] Lacasse finished her Iowa career tied for the school record with 112 points (43 goals and 26 assists), while ranking second all-time with 43 goals.[18][19] She also finished tied for first in shots (306) and second in game-winning goals (13) and assists (26).[20]
Club career
In 2012, she played with the Toronto Lady Lynx in the USL W-League.[21]
After receiving offers to play for teams in the United States and Europe,[22] Lacasse signed with Icelandic club ÍBV in the Úrvalsdeild kvenna in 2015.[23] In 2016, she won the League Cup[24] and in 2017, she won the Icelandic Cup with ÍBV.[25] In 2018, the team were runner-ups in the Super Cup and she was named IBV's Player of the Year,[26] and was she was named the league's best player by the newspaper Morgunblaðið.[27][28]
After being spotted by a Portuguese agent while playing in Iceland,[29] Lacasse signed a two-year contract with in July 2019 with Portuguese club Benfica in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino.[30][31][32] On November 17, 2021, she became the first player to score a goal for a Portuguese club in the group stage of the UEFA Women's Champions League after scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 victory over BK Häcken FF.[33] In 2021, she extended her contract until 2024.[34][35] With Benfica, she is two-time Campeonato Nacional Feminino winner (2020–21, 2021–22), a two-time Taça da Liga winner (2020, 2021), and a two-time Supertaça de Portugal winner (2019, 2022).[1]
International career
In August 2012, she attended a training camp with the Canada U20 team for the first time,[36][37] but did not make the team's final roster for their upcoming matches.[38]
After being granted Icelandic citizenship in June 2019, the head coach of the Icelandic national team, Jón Þór Hauksson, stated that she would be considered for a call-up for the team's next games.[39] Lacasse applied to FIFA and UEFA to be eligible to represent Iceland internationally,[40] however, it was confirmed in July 2020 that her application was denied, as it was ruled she did not meet FIFA's residency requirements to be eligible to represent a new national association.[41]
In April 2021, she was called-up to Canada ahead of friendlies against England and Wales,[42][43] but did not appear in either match.[44] She made her debut for the national team on November 27, 2021 in a friendly against Mexico.[6] She scored her first goal for the national team on October 6, 2022 in a 2-0 victory over Argentina in a friendly.[45][46][47]
Career statistics
Club
- As of May 7, 2023
Club | Season | League | Domestic Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
ÍBV | 2015[48] | Úrvalsdeild kvenna | 17 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 10 | ||
2016[48] | 18 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | — | — | 29 | 20 | ||||
2017[48] | 15 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 25 | 19 | ||||
2018[48] | 17 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 19 | 10 | |||
2019[48] | 12 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 18 | 14 | ||||
Total | 79 | 54 | 12 | 9 | 22 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 113 | 73 | ||
Benfica | 2019–20[49] | Campeonato Nacional Feminino | 15 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 23 | 27 | |
2020–21[49] | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 3] | 1 | 0[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 29 | 20 | ||
2021–22[49] | 17 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10[lower-alpha 3] | 4 | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 36 | 20 | ||
2022–23[49] | 20 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 10[lower-alpha 3] | 7 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 1 | 41 | 33 | ||
Total | 74 | 70 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 129 | 100 | ||
Career total | 148 | 163 | 26 | 18 | 35 | 18 | 24 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 242 | 173 |
- Appearance in Icelandic Women's Football Super Cup.
- Appearance(s) in Supertaça de Portugal Feminina
- Appearance(s) in UEFA Women's Champions League
Personal life
In 2017, she stated she was working towards applying for Icelandic citizenship,[50][51] and said it would be an honour for her to be named to the Icelandic national team.[52] In June 2019, the Icelandic Judicial Affairs and Education Committee recommended that Lacasse's application to be granted Icelandic citizenship be approved.[53][54] On June 19, 2019, she was officially granted Icelandic citizenship.[55]
Honours
ÍBV
- Icelandic Women's Football Cup: 2017
- League Cup Women A: 2016
Benfica
- Campeonato Nacional Feminino: 2020–21, 2021-22, 2022-23
- Taça da Liga Feminina: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022-23
- Supertaça de Portugal Feminina: 2019, 2022
Individual
- Campeonato Nacional Feminino Golden Boot: 2019-20
References
- Cloé Lacasse at the Canadian Soccer Association
- Pascal, Randy (May 12, 2011). "Cloe Lacasse takes scholarship at Iowa". Sudbury.com.
- Pascal, Randy (December 14, 2021). "International soccer a CAP-tivating experience for Cloe Lacasse". Sudbury Sports.
- Haddow, Scott (July 18, 2017). "Lacasse has gone far". The Sudbury Star.
- Pascal, Randy (October 12, 2020). "'Extremely competitive' Lacasse welcomes new challenge". The Sudbury Star.
- Lloyd-Hughes, Florence (December 15, 2021). "Cloe Lacasse: The Canadian forward, with Icelandic citizenship, who is 'humbled' to be at Benfica". The Athletic.
- Allan, James. "24 Hawkeyes to Watch: Cloe Lacasse". Iowa Hawkeyes.
- Pascal, Randy (October 13, 2020). "Progress in Portugal pivotal for former Pantheres star". Sudbury Sports.
- "Sudbury Canadians player heads to NCAA". Sudbury.com. March 9, 2011.
- "Cloe Lacasse Iowa Hawkeyes profile". Iowa Hawkeyes.
- "Soccer's Lacasse honored after strong weekend". The Daily Iowan. September 6, 2011.
- "Iowa soccer's Lacasse honored for second straight week". The Daily Iowan. September 13, 2011.
- Myers, Laurel (September 19, 2011). "Cloe Lacasse leads Iowa soccer team as freshman". Sudbury.com.
- "Lacasse Earns NCAA All-Region Honors". Iowa Hawkeyes. December 5, 2012.
- Pascal, Randy (August 18, 2019). "Cloe Lacasse soccer career heats up with move to Portugal". Sudbury Sports.
- "Lacasse and Pickert grab first-team All-Big Ten Honors". The Daily Iowan. November 5, 2014.
- Jónsson, Óskar Ófeigur (February 13, 2020). "Verður Cloé Lacasse í íslenska landsliðshópnum í fyrsta sinn?" [Will Cloé Lacasse be in the Icelandic national team for the first time?]. Vísir (in Icelandic).
- Molinaro, John (April 11, 2022). "Newcomer Cloé Lacasse adds a touch of experience to Canadian women's team". TFC Republic.
- Allan, James (June 30, 2015). "Lacasse's Pro Career Starts Strong". Iowa Hawkeyes.
- Allan, James (July 3, 2017). "Lacasse Shining in Iceland". Iowa Hawkeyes. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019.
- "Strong Summer Propels Lacasse". Iowa Hawkeyes. August 16, 2012.
- Þór Þórðarson, Tómas (July 4, 2017). "Mamma vildi ekki að ég spilaði íshokkí" [My mom didn't want me to play ice hockey]. Vísir (in Icelandic).
- Pascal, Randy (April 27, 2015). "The Iceland adventure of Cloe Lacasse". Sudbury Sports.
- Westendorf, Jess (July 5, 2017). "Ex-Hawk Lacasse still shines". The Daily Iowan.
- Ófeigur Jónsson, Óskar (September 26, 2017). "Einn besti erlendi leikmaðurinn í Pepsi deildinni vill verða Íslendingur" [One of the best foreign players in the Pepsi League wants to become an Icelander]. Vísir (in Icelandic).
- "Lacasse Named IBV Player of the Year". Iowa Hawkeyes. October 10, 2018.
- Pascal, Randy (October 9, 2018). "Putting Cloe Lacasse and Iceland back on the radar". Sudbury Sports.
- Sigurðsson, Víðir (September 26, 2018). "Cloé Lacasse best í deildinni" [Cloé Lacasse best in the league]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic).
- Ruszkai, Ameé (April 12, 2021). "'My journey is a little different to most' - Benfica star Lacasse on the brink of long-awaited Canada debut". Goal. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022.
- Dores, Márcia (July 19, 2019). "Cloe Lacasse contratada" [Cloe Lacasse signed]. SL Benfica (in Portuguese).
- Pascal, Randy (August 16, 2019). "Lacasse signs with Portuguese club". The Sudbury Star.
- "Futebolista Cloé Lacasse assina por duas épocas com o Benfica" [Footballer Cloé Lacasse signs for two seasons with Benfica]. SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). July 19, 2019.
- "Cloe Lacasse, made her name in Portuguese football history". Focus Portuguese. Facebook. December 20, 2021.
- "Cloé Lacasse assina pelo Benfica" [Cloé Lacasse signs for Benfica]. SAPO. July 14, 2021.
- "Entretien avec Cloé Lacasse, joueuse de soccer professionnelle de Sudbury" [Interview with Cloé Lacasse, professional soccer player from Sudbury]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in French). June 4, 2021.
- Davidson, Neil (April 7, 2021). "Sudbury winger Cloe Lacasse 'honoured and excited' to get Canada call-up". Toronto Star.
- "Lacasse Earns U-20 Invite". Iowa Hawkeyes. June 15, 2012.
- Clos, Tom (August 28, 2012). "Iowa soccer's Lacasse utilizing international experience". The Daily Iowan.
- Breiðfjörður, Hafliði (June 20, 2019). "Jón Þór: Cloe kemur að sjálfsögðu til greina í landsliðið" [Jón Þór: Cloe is of course considered for the national team]. Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic).
- Ólafsson, Hjörvar (December 5, 2019). "Bestu aðstæður sem ég hef upplifað" [The best conditions I have ever experienced]. Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic).
- Leifsson, Anton Ingi (July 10, 2020). "Jón Þór um Cloe: "Hún uppfyllir ekki kröfur FIFA"" [Jón Þór about Cloe: "She does not meet FIFA's requirements"]. Vísir (in Icelandic).
- "Eyjakonan valin í landslið Kanada" [The island woman selected for Canada's national team]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). April 1, 2021.
- Pascal, Randy (April 5, 2021). "Patience and persistence pay off for Cloe Lacasse". Sudbury Sports.
- Reis, Rafael (April 10, 2021). "Persistência e evolução levam Cloé à seleção" [Persistence and evolution lead Cloé to selection]. Lado F.
- "Lacasse scores in CanWNT win over Argentina". TSN. October 6, 2022.
- Bashir, Raheem (October 8, 2022). "Three Takeaways: Cloé Lacasse Scores First CanWNT Goal in Win". Last Word on Sports.
- "Cloé Lacasse et les Canadiennes défont l'Argentine" [Cloé Lacasse and the Canadians defeat Argentina]. RDS (in French). October 6, 2022.
- "Cloe Lacasse KSI Profile". Football Association of Iceland.
- "Cloe Lacasse Statistics". Playmaker Stats.
- Sigurðarson, Orri Rafn (September 26, 2017). "Cloe um íslenskan ríkisborgararétt: Yrði heiður að fá tækifæri" [Cloe on Icelandic citizenship: It would be an honour to have the opportunity]. Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic).
- Jónsson, Óskar Ófeigur (September 18, 2018). "Skoraði fernu í gær og dreymir um að verða Íslendingur í desember" [Scored a goal yesterday and dreams of becoming an Icelander in December]. Vísir (in Icelandic).
- Sverrisson, Sindri (May 12, 2018). "Yrði mikill heiður að spila fyrir Ísland" [It would be a great honour to play for Iceland]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic).
- Eggertsdóttir, Ástrós Ýr (June 13, 2019). "Cloé Lacasse við það að fá íslenskan ríkisborgararétt" [Cloé Lacasse about to receive Icelandic citizenship]. Vísir (in Icelandic).
- "Lagt til að Cloé öðlist íslenskan ríkisborgararétt" [It was suggested that Cloé acquire Icelandic citizenship]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). June 13, 2019.
- Þór Sæmundsson, Ingvi (June 20, 2019). "Cloé komin með íslenskan ríkisborgararétt: "Sannarlega biðarinnar virði"" [Cloé now has Icelandic citizenship: "Truly worth the wait"]. Vísir (in Icelandic).
External links
- Cloé Lacasse at Soccerway
- Cloé Lacasse at the Canadian Soccer Association
- Cloé Lacasse at the Football Association of Iceland (in Icelandic)
- Iowa Hewkeyes profile
- Cloé Lacasse at playmakerstats.com