University of Toronto Varsity Blues striker Natasha Klasios and Canada's women's soccer team finished eighth overall at the 2017 FISU Summer Universiade in Taipei.

Canada went 1-1 in round robin action before dropping a narrow 1-0 decision to Brazil in the quarter-finals. The Red and White went onto fall 1-0 (4-3 PKs) to the Republic of Korea before falling 1-0 to Mexico in the 7th/8th place match. 

Brazil 1, Canada 0 (Quarter-Final)

A penalty shot in the 68th minute was the decider in this encounter. Despite some good chances for Canada, Brazil dominated the game in terms of ball possession (68%) and shots, 10 to 3.

"I can't ask for anything more than what these girls gave us today," said head coach Peyvand Mossavat. "We had a plan, stuck to the plan, had a ton of opportunities and defended like our life depended on it. Brazil had a great team – credit to them. This group has been amazing and today was one of the best games I've seen played by any of the girls I've coached at this level. I'm just proud of them."

Canada will not have the chance to improve the best performance in the country's history, achieved at the last Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea, where it finished in fourth place. It will now face the Republic of Korea for the fifth position this Friday, August 26th at 7:30 am EDT (Eastern time).

Mexico 2, Canada 0 (Round Robin)

Canada advanced to the quarter-final round despite a 2-0 loss to Mexico to finish round robin play.

Klasios and her teammates ended round robin play with a 1-0-1 record (W-D-L), finishing in second place in Pool B, advancing to a quarter-final matchup with Brazil this Thursday, August 24 in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.

Klasios played the entire match recording one shot on goal. 

Canada 1, Ireland 0 (Round Robin)

Canada opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Ireland in its first game of the 2017 Summer Universiade women's soccer tournament.
 
Klasios played the entire first half before being subbed out at halftime.

Joëlle Gosselin, a striker from Quebec City, Que., took advantage of a hazardous pass by an Irish defender to her goalkeeper, intercepted the ball and shot right between the keeper's legs in the 46th minute.

Since there are only three teams in Pool B, head coach Peyvand Mossavat's squad placed themselves in a good position, with Ireland and Mexico having drawn the previous day.

"If it was a tie, then we would have been in trouble for the next game. Potentially a three-way tie and we could have been eliminated. We knew we had to come out on top and the girls did a fantastic job. All the credit to them for working hard for 90 minutes," said the women's soccer team head coach. 

Follow Team Canada on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @USPORTSintl

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