Matildas squad 2022: Taylor Ray on verge of Australian football debut after Covid, ACL injury

A chance to travel, play beside a best mate and potentially suit up for Australia - it’s all on the table for a youngster who nearly quit her sport just a few years ago. NEW MATILDAS SQUAD

Taylor Ray receiving the under 20 Player of the Year Award during the Sydney FC Sky Blue Ball.

If bad luck comes in three’s, Taylor Ray is finally free of it’s shackles.

Two ACL surgeries before she was even out of her teens and a bout of Covid the day she was to fly out with the Matilda’s squad for the first time have slowed her rush up the ranks.

But now Ray is fit, healthy and ready to roar after her series if setbacks and career misfires with her naming in a Matildas squad minus big names Sam Kerr, vice-captain Steph Catley and the injured Ellie Carpenter.

“I am still in shock,” said the 21-year-old who contemplated quitting football when she sustained her second ACL injury.

Taylor Ray playing for Sydney FC last year.

“To get the opportunity, I am beyond words. So excited to go to Spain and Portugal as well. I’ve always wanted to travel there.”

Making it extra special for Ray is the fact she will be playing, training and travelling with a close group of mates, including best friend Mackenzie Hawkesby.

The inclusion of the two youngsters for the first time, along with the return of Princess Ibini and Rachel Lowe, means six members of Sydney FC’s A-League women’s back-to-back Premiership winning side will be heading overseas to tackle Spain for the first time and Portugal for the fifth time.

Mackenzie Hawkesby after receiving the A-League Women's Player of the Year Award during the Sydney FC Sky Blue Ball.

“It’s exciting to have my friends also to be called into the squad for the June window,’’ Ray said.

“Mackenzie and I have been playing with Sydney Olympic and Sydney FC for years and I’m very proud of her.

“It just makes you not so stressed having a friend there.

“I know I have to prove myself and to have someone close to talk to us a massive help.’’

Fellow debutant Hawkesby from Wollongong stared her career as junior with the Figtree Football club.

Taylor Ray has been dreaming of playing for Australia since she can remember.

Ray, a former Westfield Sports high student now living in Westleigh, moved from Townsville to Sydney as a teen to pursue her dream of playing for Australia.

“This has been a dream for a long time,’’ Ray said.

Ray, Hawkesby and Matilda McNamara are the new faces in the squad.

Capped players Angela Beard, Larissa Crummer, Ibini, Lowe and Amy Sayer are all returning to the 24 player squad.

The Matildas squad also includes 14 members of the team which defeat in New Zealand in April with Lydia Williams approaching the impressive milestone of being the first female Australian goalkeeper to reach 100 appearances for her country.

Lydia Williams of the Matildas (centre) clears the ball during a friendly between Australia and Chile in 2019.

MATILDAS SQUAD FOR SPAIN, PORTIUGAL MATCHES

Name, position, caps, goals, junior club/member federation

Mackenzie ARNOLD, Goalkeeper, 28 (0) Burleigh/Football QLD

Angela BEARD, Back, 3 (0) Bethania Rams/Football QLD

Alex CHIDIAC, Midfielder, 18 (1) Croydon Kings/Football South Australia

Larissa CRUMMER, Forward, 23 (4), Peninsula Power/Football QLD

Jacynta GALABADAARACHCHI, Forward, 0 (0), South-Eastern Piranhas/Football Victoria

Emily GIELNIK, Forward, 52 (11) Redlands United/Football QLD

Katrina GORRY, Midfielder, 80 (15) Mt Gravatt Hawks/ Football QLD

Charlotte GRANT, Back FC, 5 (0), Cumberland United Women’s FC/Football South Australia

Mackenzie HAWKESBY, Midfielder, 0 (0) Figtree Football Club/Football NSW

Winonah HEATLEY, Back, 0 (0) Mossman and Cairns/Football QLD

Princess IBINI-ISE, 6 (0) Earlwood Wanderers/Football NSW

Rachel LOWE, Forward, 1 (0) West Pymble FC/Football NSW

Matilda McNAMARA, Back, 0 (0) Adelaide City FC/Football South Australia

Teagan MICAH, Goalkeeper FC, Brisbane Blue, Central/Football QLD

Courtney NEVIN, Back, 10 (0) Oakville Ravens/Football NSW

Clare POLKINGHORNE, Back, 143 (12) Wynnum Wolves, Capalaba/Football QLD

Taylor RAY, Midfielder 0 (0), Townsville Warriors FC/Football QLD

Amy SAYER, Midfielder, 4 (0) Northbridge FC/Football NSW

Remy SIEMSEN, Forward, 4 (0) Manly United/Football NSW

Emily VAN EGMOND, Midfielder, San Diego Wave 118 (30) Dudley-Redhead/Northern NSW Football

Cortnee VINE, Forward, 4 (0) Peninsula Power FC/Football QLD

Clare WHEELER, Midfielder, 9 (0) Adamstown Rosebud/Northern NSW Football

Lydia WILLIAMS, Goalkeeper, 99 (0) Tuggeranong, Woden Valley/Capital Football

Tameka YALLOP, Midfielder, 105 (12) Mudgeeraba/Football QLD

MATILDAS MATCH DETAILS

Spain v Australia: June 25 (local) /June 26 (AUS) Time: 9.30pm (local) / 5.30am (AEST)

Venue: Estadio Nuevo Colombino, Huelva

Portugal v Australia: June 28 (local) /June 29 (AUS) Time: 9.00pm (local) / 6.00am (AEST)

Venue: Estádio António Coimbra da Mota, Estoril

Originally published as Matildas squad 2022: Taylor Ray on verge of Australian football debut after Covid, ACL injury