Western Sydney Wanderers young defender Ellie Carpenter earns Matildas training camp call-up
ELLIE Carpenter is only 15, but the talented footballer is already being touted as a potential Matildas player.
Parramatta
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ELLIE Carpenter is only 15, but the talented footballer is already being touted as a potential Matildas player.
The rising star was invited to her first Matildas camp in Canberra last week, rewarded for her sensational four games at centre-back for Western Sydney Wanderers’ W-League side.
After rubbing shoulders with her world-class teammates in camp, the Pumulwuy resident returned to the Wanderers to lead Western Sydney to a 3-1 win against Melbourne Victory on the weekend.
Carpenter has yet to hear whether she will be part of the Matildas squad that will travel to Incheon to take on South Korea in an international game, but is just happy she got the opportunity to be in the training camp.
The young defender has come a long way since moving from Cowra to Sydney four years ago to pursue her football dream.
“It was amazing. It was one of the best experiences of my life,” she said of the camp.
“It is nothing compared to what I’ve done before. We had two training sessions a day and it was intense, but to share a pitch with the likes of Lisa De Vanna was pretty special.”
Carpenter proved why she deserved a spot in the Matildas squad with an outstanding display against Melbourne Victory, assisting the opening goal that saw the Wanderers take over the game.
“We’ve played five games and I have been lucky to start in all of them and play the full 90 minutes,” Carpenter said.
“I love it. I can’t wait for each weekend, getting to play against the best girls in Australia.
“I’m going to keep working hard at training, keep improving, and hopefully help the Wanderers reach the semi finals and go from there.”
The third-placed Wanderers have the weekend off before hosting Canberra United on November 29 at Central Coast Stadium, which will be played before the Wanderers’ A-League side takes on the Central Coast Mariners.
Carpenter was nominated for Parramatta Advertiser’s Junior Sports Star award.
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