Ciara McCormack's Life Motto:
'Dream Big, Always Believe, Make it Happen!'
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THE COOLEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE: Ciara McCormack records First International Cap with Ireland in Philadelphia (September 16, 2008).
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OTTAWA - Ciara McCormack, the former co-captain of the Ottawa Fury Soccer Club, has achieved a soccer dream that many young soccer talents have today - playing on an international team.
Ciara has been selected to play for Ireland and recently played in three internationals for Ireland against the 2008 Women's Soccer Champions USA.
In September she played before 15,000 plus fans in Philadelphia in what she has described as "the coolest night of my life," and earned her first international cap for Ireland (FAI).
Her internationally ranked 28th Ireland squad took on first ranked, and reigning Olympic Gold Medalists, United States. Despite falling to the U.S. by a 2-0 score, it was Ireland's best result ever against the U.S. in what McCormack feels is "a step in the right direction."
The FAI Women's program is very much an up and coming program. With strong support from the FAI McCormack says that "it's really exciting to be a part of the team at this time."
After the completion of their U.S. tour, the women returned to Europe to prepare for a Euro qualifier in Sweden at the beginning of October.
Ciara was born in North Vancouver and after playing soccer at Handsworth Secondary in North Van where she was a Provincial All-Star, Ciara went down to the U.S. to play NCAA soccer for four years at Yale University (B.A. Women's Studies/International Studies) and a year at the University of Connecticut (M.A. Sports Management).
In that time, she played her summers in Santa Cruz, Bolivia (Tahuichi Academy) won U-20 U.S. Championships with both Colorado in 1999 and Connecticut in 2000, a W-League Championship with the Boston Renegades in 2001 and played in 2002 with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
She recently completed a two-year stint playing for Europe's 2003 second place team in Denmark (Fortuna Hjoerring). While in Denmark she did another Masters in International Development.
She has coached extensively throughout North America and in Denmark, including at Trumbull High School in Connecticut, where she helped coach their varsity team that finished with a third place U.S. High School ranking in 2000 and a player who was in the starting line-up of the US 2002 U-19 Championship squad.
Ciara's father, Barry McCormack, was born in Athlone, Ireland, and later studied engineering at University College Cork. Her mother May is also from Ireland, making them very proud parents to see their daughter don the Irish colours.
Her father has been very active in his daughter's soccer development and, in turn, has wanted to help others along the way.
Barry McCormack, has published two books - Winning a U.S. College Sport Scholarship and The Canadian High School Athlete's Top 10 Steps to Winning a U.S. College Sports Scholarship.
It was Ciara's perseverance that resulted in her attending Ivy League Yale University which in turn resulted in her father's writing of these books.
Ciara has a life motto which has helped her reach some of her outstanding goals and that is: "Dream Big, Always Believe, Make it Happen!"
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