EDINBURG, Texas -- Forward Nichelle Prince scored two goals to pace Canada to a 2-0 win over Jamaica in the 2018 concacaf Women's Championship Group B opener for both teams at H-E-B Park on Friday night.
The victory boosted the Canadians into second place behind Costa Rica, which took the group lead by goal differential after its 8-0 victory over Cuba in the opening game of the doubleheader.
Canada enjoyed a huge possession advantage in the opening half and that paid off in the 33rd minute.
The Maple Leafs worked hard to keep a corner kick alive. Jamaica defender Dominique Bond-Flasza tried to clear the ball out of the box. The ball took a fortuitous path to Prince, who fired from just to the left of the penalty spot past goalkeeper Sydney Schneider into the lower right corner for a 1-0 lead.
Prince gave Canada some breathing room in the 79th minute as she ran onto an Adriana Leon pass before burying the past Schneider from eight yards for her ninth international goal and a two-goal advantage.
Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, who was not tested, registered the clean sheet.
The CWC continues Sunday in Cary, North Carolina as the United States meets Panama while Mexico plays Trinidad & Tobago.
On Monday, Costa Rica faces Jamaica and Canada will battle Cuba here.
