National secondary schools girls’ team to compete at tournament in Texas

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An 18-player squad will represent New Zealand Secondary Schools at an international tournament in Texas in early April.

The U-19 NZSS Girls team will compete at the 2023 Dallas International Cup from April 5-9, 2023.

Thirty-two teams will play in the U-19 section of the tournament, including sides from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Denmark.

In their group, New Zealand have been drawn to play Solar Soccer Club (Texas), Florida Rush Soccer Club (Florida) and the BVB International Academy (Texas).

The New Zealand squad will be coached by NZSS Girls’ head coach Alana Gunn, coach of Canterbury United Pride’s national title-winning team, and the assistant coach is 124-cap Football Fern Annalie Longo.

Squad

Brooke Assur (Wellington East Girls’ College)
Denva Perrott (Lincoln High School)
Dorothy Yek (Papanui High School)
Holly Roberts (Baradene College of the Sacred Heart)
Katherine Fulton (Epsom Girls’ Grammar School)
Katie Brugh (Baradene College of the Sacred Heart)
Kyra Morgan (Wellington Girls’ College)
Lara Smith (Wellington Girls’ College)
Lily Davies (Wellington East Girls’ College)
Maddie Iro (Christchurch Girls’ High School)
Olivia Erskine (Diocesan School for Girls)
Olivia McDonald (St Peter’s School, Cambridge)
Penny Brill (Baradene College of the Sacred Heart)
Riley Sheldon (Rangitoto College)
Saffron Millar (Mt Aspiring College)
Sophia Johnston (Epsom Girls’ Grammar School)
Xanthe Jane (Rangiora High School)
Zara Erol-Watt (Spotswood College)

Coaching staff

Head coach: Alana Gunn
Assistant coach: Annalie Longo
Manager: Heather Hepburn
Physio: Mike McCorkindale

Fixtures

Game to be played Thursday April 6, 2023, 5am (NZT)

New Zealand v Florida Rush

Game to be played on Friday April 7, 2023, 9.30am (NZT)

BVB International Academy v New Zealand

Game to be played on Saturday April 8, 2023, 5.30am (NZT)

New Zealand v Solar SC

READ MORE: Epsom Girls Grammar are crowned 2022 national secondary schools premier champions >>>>

Boys teams to tour Malaysia and Singapore

Two boys’ teams — representing U-19 and U-16 age groups — will play representative teams from Malaysia and Singapore, and play two warm-up games, on an 11-day tour from April 6-17, 2023.

READ MORE: Two squads chosen to represent NZ Secondary Schools on April overseas tour >>>>

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