Cavalry Training Roster Included Nolan Anderson

The reigning Canadian Premier League champions are now just one week away from their Concacaf Champions Cup match against Liga MX giant Pumas UNAM, with their California camp concluding earlier this week.

Head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr had some 27 athletes training down in Chula Vista, California. Goalkeepers Marco Carducci and Joseph Holliday were already under contract, with Neven Fewster inking his second developmental deal – though he wasn’t the only goalkeeper the club got a close look at: 18-year-old American goalkeeper Nolan Anderson had also joined the team during their time in California.

The goalkeeper, who developed with California’s Murrieta Soccer Academy and most recently with the Dynamo Academy, has also been rostered to LA Galaxy II and their MLS Next Pro successor Ventura County, though he racked up only one MLS Next Pro appearance over the last two seasons.

Cavalry’s California camp saw the club square up against LAFC, though a wildfire evacuation alert put a pause on proceedings the day the club was due to test itself against Columbus Crew. The club was also set to play against San Diego State University afterwards, though this will have come as a closed-door affair.

Anderson, who was called up to the USMNT U-17 team in 2022, isn’t expected to be a roster addition rather than a local training player. Still, Cavalry is no stranger with seeing how international talent fits into the roster, having signed German goalkeeper Julian Roloff two years ago before taking in Everton’s Jack Barrett on loan last year.

With the club’s time in California concluded, the squad has returned to Calgary to train for a few days before heading out west to Langford, where Starlight Stadium will set the stage for their home leg against Pumas on February 6, with the away leg set to take place one week later.

This will be the first time Cavalry has faced Mexican opposition competitively, though it won’ be their continental debut: that came last year, with the club bowing out against Major League Soccer’s Orlando City.

Header Image Photo Courtesy: Ventura County