Hayley Raso's Rose City revival

In May of 2015, after being named to the Matildas World Cup roster, Hayley Raso found herself excited and looking forward to the year ahead.

However, disappointment came early as Raso could only look on and see her teammates making history since she did not see the field in any of the team’s World Cup matches.

Even without notching any minutes at the World Cup Raso is still thankful for the experience.

“Getting over to Canada and amongst that atmosphere and being at a major tournament was a new experience for me. And it was great," she said.

"I didn’t get the minutes that I wanted to, but all in all the experience and being there really showed me where I wanted to be.”

Raso at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup (Photo: Getty Images)

After the World Cup, Raso was one of a number of Matildas who joined clubs in the NWSL and began experiencing life as an overseas player.

When asked about how she became interested in playing in the NWSL Raso credits her play in the W-League from the 2014-2015 season that prompted then Washington Spirit’s Coach Mark Parsons to try and have her join his team.

“Mark Parsons reached out to me at the end of the W-League season and I was in contact with him for a few months. Then we organised for me to go over after the World Cup."

"I hadn’t heard too much about the league. I knew some girls from Australia had been over there previously, but when he did reach out to me I did look into it.”

After looking into it she soon realised she would be able to play against some of the best players in the world on a weekly basis and she was ready for the challenge.

“Women’s soccer over in America is huge so it was definitely something I wanted to do and wanted to try and experience."

"I hadn’t played overseas before and it was really great to get over here. It was a new culture and a new environment with new people.”

When Raso ended her season with the Washington Spirit she knew she had learned a lot and looked forward to returning to the club in 2016.

Increasingly for players in women's soccer there is no real off-season and that is the case for Raso. The forward went straight from the Spirit to training with her W-League team, the Melbourne Victory.

After a disappointing season in the W-League, with Melbourne Victory finishing in last place, Raso was even more excited to be back with her NWSL team.

Raso played one season for the Washington Spirit before being waived (Photo: NWSL)

Even with the Washington Spirit having a coaching change Raso said she felt confident in earning her spot on the team and playing with the Spirit again.

“To my knowledge I was just going back and playing for the Spirit. They had re-picked up my contract so I knew Mark (Parsons) wasn’t going to be there, but I had been in contact with Jim (Gabarra) and straight after the W-League season I came back over and was training and playing here.”

Then heartbreak and disappointment fell on Hayley Raso once again as she was waived from the Spirit and now found herself without a club, half way across the world from home.

“When I was released from the Spirit it was a bit of a shock to me,” said Raso.

“There was a period where I didn’t know what was going on or what was happening. I was absolutely devastated. I didn’t know if I would be going back home or staying in the league. I wanted to keep playing soccer, keep doing what I love.”

That determination to get back to playing soccer and her connection with Mark Parsons, the new head of coach of the Portland Thorns, saw Raso get back on the field doing what she loves.

She always speaks highly of Coach Parsons and is grateful for his continued belief in her as a player.

“When Mark (Parsons) and I were in touch and we spoke, he gave me a second chance. Coming over to Portland, seeing the people here and playing here and joining into a team like the Thorns it was so great for me and I am absolutely loving it here.”

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Portland is a unique place, a unique culture for women's football. The Thorns regularly play in front of crowds of 14,000+ and the roster is the envy of many teams.  Not only is Raso getting to enjoy playing soccer in Portland, but she is enjoying the soccer town atmosphere that the city of Portland is known for.

“Walking onto the field for the first game was amazing. I was mind blown by the atmosphere and the way the fans that come out."

"You definitely know it’s a soccer city. Even when you’re on the street people talk to you about it, everyone knows. I just think it was something I was not aware of and being here really opened my eyes to how great it really is.”

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The Brisbane native is currently catching her breath after all the upheaval. The past year has seen her watch the 2015 World Cup from the sidelines, win only two games in the W-League, waived from the Washington Spirit and now with the undefeated and NWSL league leading Portland Thorns.

Even with the setbacks she has faced over this past year, Raso understands it has been difficult, but has embraced her journey and is thankful to be where she is now.

“It has been an absolute rollercoaster and a lot of the things that have happened in the past year I really wasn’t expecting it," she stated.

"I’ve learned to be mentally tough and I am in a really good place right now and I’m really enjoying my soccer. I’m in a good environment with a great coach. I guess it just shows that in the end you end up where you’re supposed to be."

"I’m loving it and all of the things that have happened have lead me to being here.”

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This year has also taught her about what she is looking forward to in the future. While it is highly unlikely that Raso will be with the Matildas for the upcoming Olympics, she is set to be a key part of of a quality side of the Portland Thorns during the Olympics period.

“Not being on the Matildas roster at the time is devastating and when it’s something you really want to be doing it’s hard to take, but I think I’ve learned and I am coping with it now."

"I did talk to Coach Staj [Matildas coach Alen Stajcic] so I do know what I need to do. I am really happy being over in America and playing with such quality players and playing against such quality players because I am able to continue improving and hopefully it helps me. Because it is a goal of mine to get back with the Matildas.”

With the NWSL as her main focus, Hayley Raso is trusting the process and looking to grow and develop as a player.

She is working hard to ensure the next time the Matildas play in a major tournament she is one of the first people to make the roster.

While players are away at Rio make sure to keep an eye out for Raso and how she does with the Portland Thorns.