The Young Matildas squad to face New Zealand on Sunday will have a distinct college flavour as two current NCAA Division I players received call-ups. Incoming Santa Clara freshman Holly Furphy and DePaul rising sophomore Katie Godden are both in the mix to make an appearance, with former William Carey University wide player Sheridan Gallagher also part of the squad. The game against New Zealand forms part of both sides’ preparation for the 2022 Under 20 World Cup, which takes place in Costa Rica in August.
A former Arsenal Under 21 player, Godden made her collegiate debut for DePaul in August 2021 in a 2-1 loss to Iowa, proceeding to make 18 appearances in her freshman season. Those 18 appearances included 8 starts as the former Charlton Athletic forward averaged 52 minutes per contest for a DePaul side that finished 4-6 in the highly competitive Big East conference. Godden also tallied her first collegiate goal in the final game of the season against Marquette, but the freshman had looked threatening in front of goal for much of the season. Evidently, those performances as well as her work in the recent camp impressed Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney, with the 2021 College Matildas Freshman of the Year now a chance to make her Young Matildas debut.
Santa Clara signee Holly Furphy may not have played a collegiate game yet, but already has plenty of experience in and around the junior national program and now has a chance to only add to that experience before making her debut for one of the truly elite college programs. COVID-19 may have played havoc with NPL competitions across the nation, but Furphy has managed to bang home 19 goals in 55 appearances for the Football Victoria Emerging side since making her debut in 2016. Having also spent time as a train-on player with Melbourne Victory during a highly successful period for the team, Furphy already has plenty of experience in high-level environments which will serve her well not only as she looks to secure World Cup selection, but also in her time at Santa Clara.
However, Godden and Furphy aren’t the only NCAA Division I College Matildas involved. The New Zealand squad features former Louisiana-Monroe goalkeeper Brianna Edwards, who recently took up the opportunity to play for New Zealand rather than Australia. Having made her A-League Women’s debut for Wellington Phoenix during the 2021-22 season, Edwards has been in solid form for Bankstown City in NPL New South Wales and will look to cement the starting berth between the sticks for the Junior Football Ferns heading into the World Cup.
New Zealand v Australia Match Details
Date: Sunday, 12 June 2022
Time: 2.00pm (local) / 4.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Kiwitea Street, Auckland
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