NSW players dominate Young Matildas squad

As many as thirteen promising young future female stars hailing from NSW have been selected for the Young Matildas’ three international matches against high calibre female football nations Canada and the USA at the AIS in Canberra from 6-12 July 2017.

Football NSW Institute will have four of their players don the Green and Gold as Princess Ibini-Isei, Rachel Lowe, Jada Mathyssen-Whyman and Alyssa Rose while Sydney University will feature six faces with the likes of Amy Sayer, Georgia Boric, Nickoletta Flannery, Mackenzie Hawkesby, Clare Hunt and Clare Wheeler all ready for international action.

Manly United’s Remy Siemsen, North Shore Mariners’ Teigan Collister and Western Sydney Wanderers’ Ellie Carpenter will also represent NSW with the Young Matildas side.

The matches, which will see the Young Matildas take on Canada followed by two encounters against the USA, will officially launch the squad’s preparations for the AFC U-19 Women’s Championships 2017 campaign coming up in October, the tournament which doubles as qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018 in France.

“Being able to have teams of the quality of Canada and the USA here is extremely beneficial. International competition for all junior teams is something that we’re starved of, so for us to get the opportunity to play against two powerhouses like Canada and America is invaluable for our players,” said Young Matildas Head Coach Gary van Egmond.

“It will give us a really good eye opener on what this level is all about and it’s good for us from the perspective of assessing and looking to see how we finalise the squad ahead of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championships in October.”

Up to 36 players have been involved in Young Matildas camps since the beginning of the year, highlighting the increasing depth of talent coming through and the surging growth and interest in football among girls.

“From all of the players we’ve had come through Young Matildas camps from the beginning of the year, it’s getting to a stage of looking at who we think we can utilise when the time comes around for qualification, which is the most important thing,” said van Egmond.

“The squad has changed around a bit so that shows there are opportunities for players who are working hard and doing well. At the moment these 23 players have got a spot in the squad and it’s up to them to try and keep their position.”

“A mainstay of this squad has all had Westfield W-League experience so they’re quality players and it’s good to see the next generation coming through.”

With the USA’s senior women’s team currently the number one ranked team in the world in the world while Canada is fourth, the rare opportunity to host their respective U-20 teams in Australia is not lost on van Egmond.

“We’ve seen the way Canada and the USA’s senior women’s teams play and I don’t think that will be too dissimilar to how the younger ones go about their business,” said van Egmond.

“But from our perspective it’s more about concentrating on us and looking at how we can try and cause them problems by keeping to our principles.”

The three international matches are part of a Young Matildas training camp at the AIS which commenced today and will conclude on 13 July.

The Young Matildas’ first match is on Saturday 8 July against Canada following the opening match between the Canadians and the USA on 6 July. The matches are open to public and free of charge to enter.

Match Schedule (all matches to be played at the AIS on Field 2)

Canada v USA

Thursday 6 July 2017

Kick-Off: 3.30pm AEST

Young Matildas v Canada

Saturday 8 July 2017

Kick-Off: 10.00am AEST

Young Matildas v USA

Monday 10 July 2017

Kick-Off: 3.30pm AEST

Young Matildas v USA

Wednesday 12 July 2017

Kick-Off: 3.30pm AEST

Young Matildas squad for July internationals

Melina AYRES South Melbourne FC

Melinda BARBIERI Calder United

Georgia BORIC (GK) Sydney University SFC

Hannah BOURKE Emerging Jets

Ellie CARPENTER Western Sydney Wanderers FC

Alex CHIDIAC Adelaide City

Teigan COLLISTER North Shore Mariners

Nickoletta FLANNERY Sydney University SFC

Annie GROVE (GK) Emerging Jets

Mackenzie HAWKESBY Sydney University SFC

Clare HUNT Sydney University SFC

Princess IBINI Football NSW Institute

Ashleigh LEFEVRE Football Federation Victoria NTC

Rachel LOWE Football NSW Institute

Grace MAHER Belconnen United

Annabel MARTIN Galaxy United

Jada MATHYSSEN-WHYMAN (GK) Football NSW Institute

Alyssa ROSE Football NSW Institute

Amy SAYER Sydney University 

Remy SIEMSEN Manly United

Kaitlyn TORPEY Brisbane Roar FC NPL

Cortnee VINE Heidelberg United

Clare WHEELER Sydney University SFC