Young Matildas squad selected for USA and Canada internationals

Preparations for the 2017 AFC U19 Women's Championships will ramp up for the Young Matildas this month as they take on the United States and Canada at the AIS from 6-12 July 2017..

Ahead of the clashes, Young Matildas coach Gary van Egmond has selected a 23 player squad to play Canada and the United States (twice).

“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 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.”

The squad sees a mix of players from South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT and NSW and follows successive camps involving up to 36 players.

Several W-League players will be involved including capped senior Matildas Ellie Carpenter and Alex Chidiac, as well as 2016/17 W-League Young Player of the Year Remy Siemsen and TWG's Young Player of the Year Grace Maher.

Several players uncapped at Young Matildas level have also been selected including a number from the Junior Matildas age group as Van Egmond looks to test them at the higher level.

“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.”

“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.

SQUAD

Melina AYRES (South Melbourne FC), MelindaJ BARBIERI (Calder United)), Georgia BORIC (GK) (Sydney University SFC), Hannah BOURKE (Emerging Jets), Ellie CARPENTER (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Alex CHIDIAC (Adelaide United), 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 (Alamein FC), 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 SFC), Remy SIEMSEN (Manly United), Kaitlyn TORPEY (Brisbane Roar FC NPL), Cortnee VINE (Heidelberg United), Clare WHEELER (Sydney University SFC)