Nichelle Prince has had a tremendous year.
The Canadian women’s team forward won an Olympic bronze medal in Rio last summer, she wrapped up a prolific college career at Ohio State, and then she was drafted 28th overall by the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League.
After logging minutes as a substitute to start the 2017 NWSL season, the 22-year-old from Ajax, Ontario is now putting in work as a starter alongside American Carli Lloyd, Andressa of Brazil and fellow Canadian Janine Beckie.
Sportsnet recently had a chance to chat with the striker to hear more about her rookie NWSL campaign and how she’s adjusting to life in the Lone Star State.
You were a big part of the Buckeye attack during your time at Ohio State. How have you found the jump from college soccer into the pro game?
It was a quick turnaround from college into professional, but I think what’s helped a lot is that I’ve had experience on the international level with the Canadian national team. That’s helped with the professionalism, playing with top players. Day in and day out, the difference is you’re playing with and against some of the best players in the whole world and it helps raise my standards. It helps me set higher goals for myself. It’s good.
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Have you had to make any adjustments to your game now that you are teammates with some of the world’s best, such as Carli Lloyd?
Playing with someone like Carli Lloyd, who has been the FIFA World Player of the Year, it can be uncomfortable at times because she challenges me and she expects a lot from me. But, it’s also a good feeling because I know I’m getting better and players like her expect a lot from the players they’re playing with. They expect you to come in and give it your all every training session, every game. They’re very supportive and I know they’ve got my back while trying to help me succeed. She’s been great for me and it challenges me. I know I’m getting better playing along someone like her.
How about Janine Beckie? How did she help you get settled in Houston?
It was great being drafted to a team where I knew someone like Janine, whom I’ve known since I was with the U-20 Canadian team. She’s a quality player who had a good rookie year and has been a pivotal player for us with the national team. I’ve got a lot of respect for her. She gave me a few tips coming into the NWSL season. It’s been good being able to have her support and I know playing with her is helping me build that relationship with her for the national team as well. I’m in a good position playing with her. It’s helped me settle in.
How do you like the city of Houston?
It’s very different from Toronto or Ohio State. It’s hot all the time! [laughs] It’s very hot at training and it’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced. I would say you really don’t get used to the heat or humidity, but I have a different mentality playing through it. It’s not getting any cooler here, so it’s something I have to mentally perform in and push myself through it. It’s something that’s good for me and as I grow as a professional, it’ll help me adapt to different environments. I’m using it as a challenge and something else I can grow with.
And I think we’ve already seen that growth because to start the season, you were used as a substitute, whereas now, you’ve got a starting role with the team.
Like you said, I’ve had different roles. I was starting on the bench at first, then came off the bench. It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster, but throughout each role I’ve had, I’ve stayed focused on my objective of what I can bring to the team. Even when I wasn’t starting, I was making sure that I was doing everything I need to do in training and was focused for whatever opportunity I have. That’s been something I’m proud of myself for, staying focused through all that. I know what I’m here to do. I just want to keep on getting better in whatever role I have. Having that experience with being on the national team and not being a starter has helped me come in here and perfect my role, whatever it might be.
In June, you scored your first professional goal. What do you remember about it?
That was actually a game I came off the bench and we were down. I’m sure everyone wants their first goal to be a game winning goal [laughs], but it set the tone for me. That’s the player that I am: I can come on and make an impact. Having that first goal, I knew I could keep having that same impact, starting or coming off the bench. As a forward, it can be really frustrating if you’re not scoring, but once you get that first goal, you relax a little bit. You’re free and you’ve seen yourself do it, you’ve felt yourself do it and you know it can happen again.
My family was able to see the goal and were very proud of me. My friends sent me messages. My support system is always there, whether I’m playing or not. It was a good feeling to get that goal and I’m proud that the people I love were at home watching.
The pass;
The finish:
Congrats, @nichelleprince7! #DashOn pic.twitter.com/0MajHOZQUM
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) June 18, 2017
You and the Dash are in that crucial part of the season. How do you make that final push to the playoffs?
Our complete mindset right now is to make it to the playoffs. I think we’ve played well recently and I think it’s the mentality that we have now that we expect to get three points. Whether we are away or whether we are at home, that’s all we want.
How excited are you for the Canada-USA friendly in November at Vancouver’s B.C. Place? There’s such a rivalry there and you’ll get to face some of your pro teammates.
Oh yeah! The Canadian-American rivalry is something that’s been part of my life since way before I was even playing on the national team. It’s such a fun and competitive rivalry. It’s fun because I play with some of the U.S. national team members and we’re close with them, we have a good relationship with them. But, when we’re playing against them on our national teams, it’s a different story. I think that’s been the Canadian national team’s goal for a long time — to get a win against them. We’ve been working so hard to not only beat them but being number one in the whole world. That game is going to mean a lot to us and for our future going in the Women’s World Cup qualification next year. It’s going to be a great game. The fans love that rivalry, too. A lot of people will turn up for it. It’s going to be exciting.
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