Injury means St. Albert’s Erin McLeod will miss 2016 Summer Olympics

EDMONTON — St. Albert’s Erin McLeod suffered a devastating blow which will force her to miss the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

McLeod, who’s a goaltender for Canada’s Women’s National Soccer Team, tore her ACL in a UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter Final game between her team, FC Rosengard (Sweden), and FFC Frankfurt (Germany).

In a statement released by the Canadian Soccer Association, McLeod said she will undergo a third surgery and will miss the Olympics.

“My surgical options means it will take between one and two years to come back, and there are no guarantees, as there never really are in life.”

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Canada’s Head Coach John Herdman said her absence from the Olympic team will be felt but her health is a bigger priority.

“Erin needs to take this time to recover and we are fully supportive of her choice to take this time to recover properly and hopefully come back stronger than she was before.”

McLeod has helped lead Canada to a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and a silver medal at the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup in Edmonton.