Lapenna, Gardner looking to impress the FC Edmonton brass By Steven Sandor Posted on May 25, 2012 1 0 808 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter FC Edmonton has two Canadian youth national-team members in the fold, looking to stick with the Eddies. Former Montreal Impact Academy member Marco Lapenna and ex-TFC Academy player Dino Gardner were both at FC Edmonton’s training session Friday at Clarke Stadium. Lapenna was on the pitch, playing a fullback role in training. The club confirmed he is on a two-week trial. Meanwhile, Gardner was on the sidelines, watching proceedings. He cannot officially become a trialist until his medical report is in. Marco Lapenna Lapenna, just 18 years old, was on the Canadian team that played in last year’s U-17 World Cup. He played in the CONCACAF U-17 final, which saw Canada lose to the United States by a 3-0 count. In training Friday, Lapenna, who is 5-foot-4, scrimmaged as a left back. Gardner, a defender, was on coach Nick Dasovic’s preliminary roster for the Canadian U-20 team, and was invited to that squad’s camp last December. In 2011, Gardner left TFC Academy to pursue other opportunities, at the same time much-ballyhooed youth prospect Keven Aleman left the club’s youth wing. But Gardiner spent the rest of 2011 playing in the Canadian Soccer League. FC Edmonton still has five roster spots left, as per NASL rules.
