The Girls of Summer

Saturday October 2 at Noon on CBC-TV

They are young teenagers dreaming of a trip to New Zealand in the fall of 2008. But only 21 of them will be chosen to represent Canada at the FIFA Under 17 World Cup.

To make the team they've endured a year of grueling training camps, countless tournaments and exhibition games. It all comes down to a fateful call from their coach to learn if they've made the cut.

See more photos of the team in action at our photogallery.

These young athletes are in their prime. They are also teenage girls facing down intense pressure from their peers, their parents and a coach who comes with the nickname 'Death'.

Life on the road brings deep friendships and cutthroat competition. Some suffer injuries, some break under the weight of expectation and some simply get distracted by all the fun they are missing back home.

For the past year the CBC Documentary team has been tracking the girls on and off the field as they lived through the fierce competition to make the team and the pressures of being a teenage girl.

In The Girls of Summer, watch how these young girls are transformed into elite athletes and strive for their spot on the Canadian National soccer team.

Angelika Uremovich, 16. Midfielder/Forward

Angelika Uremovich

Soft spoken but known for her long stride and a killer diagonal kick on the net, this sixteen year old has a string of soccer medals to her name. 

Off the field, Angelika can out-shop any of the girls.   On the field she is a rising star, especially when she can master her nerves.   Now that a World Cup is at stake, Angelika’s challenge is to keep her confidence up under the increasing pressure.

Bryanna McCarthy, 16. Defender

Bryanna McCarthy

She may be one of the shortest girls on the team, but this star defender makes slide tackles look like hopskotch. Bryanna has so much raw talent she has to be careful not to take it for granted and fall behind in the relentless training. Bryanna's warmth makes her a popular off the field.

Caroline Szwed, 16. Midfielder

Caroline Szwed

Daughter of Polish immigrant parents, Caroline is living the dream her father couldn’t pursue while growing up in Poland.   To play the beautiful game is Caroline’s inherited passion, to play for her own country, Canada, is an honour she pursues with an unwavering drive.

Amy Harrison, 16. Midfielder

Amy Harrison

Amy was born with soccer in her blood.  Coached by her soccer player father since she was five, this tomboy will stop at nothing once on the field and with the ball in sight.   Her fierce dedication makes her a team favourite. But with an injured foot she has fewer chances to show the coach she still has her edge.