Western Sydney Wanderers re-sign Matildas teenager Ellie Carpenter for W-league

SHE was the youngest Matildas player in Rio but Ellie Carpenter is about to become an old hand at representing the Western Sydney Wanderers in the upcoming W-League.

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SHE was the youngest Matildas player in Rio but Ellie Carpenter is about to become an old hand at representing the Western Sydney Wanderers in the upcoming W-League.

The Sydney schoolgirl has re-signed with the Sydney team for another season of the elite women’s football competition in the wake of her debut Olympics with the Matildas.

The Lisa De Vanna lead Australian team was knocked out of their first Olympic Games since 2004 in heartbreaking style in the quarter-finals of the women’s football competition.

Ellie Carpenter prior to the Rio Olympics. Pic: Adam Taylor

Brazil won the match in a penalty shootout to end the Matildas dreams of medalling in Rio.

Carpenter, at 16, was both the youngest player in the Matildas and the youngest athlete on the Australian Olympic team.

Last season she was also the youngest Wanderers signing.

“When I started at the Wanderers less than a year ago I couldn’t imagine what was going to happen,’’ said Carpenter of making her W-League and international debut as a 15-year-old and Olympic debut at 16.

“The last 10 months have been pretty crazy ... finishing W-League, straight into the Matildas, qualification for the Olympics, the Olympic tournament itself and now re-signing with the Wanderers.

“The Wanderers have done so much for me in offering me my first contract, having faith in me to perform and giving me the game time I needed to get identified for the national team.

“I’m so proud to be part of this club.”

Matildas Emily Van Egmond and Kyah Simon playing Zimbabwe in Rio.