Tasmanian soccer teams packed with talent for clash with Calder as curtain-raiser to A-League fixture
Tasmania’s best women’s soccer players are preparing to put Tassie “on the map” against Calder United.
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THE chance to prove their wares against a top-notch team is exciting enough for home-grown star Danielle Kannegiesser, but the prospect of a Tasmanian team in the W-League would be a dream come true.
Kannegiesser, 27, is preparing to play for an all-Tasmanian team against WNFL outfit Calder United – the women’s team of A-League club Western United – as a preview to the A-League clash between Western United and Wellington Phoenix at UTAS Stadium next week.
The Kingborough winger will be joined in the state senior team by Taroona’s Eli Cropp, while Natalia Leszczynski, of Olympia FC Warriors, is celebrating her selection in the state youth team.
“It’s very exciting and I’m super nervous,” Kannegiesser said.
“Calder are a great team with a very good line-up so that’s very exciting for us.
“Having a mixed Tassie team competing against a very strong Victorian side is incredible for us, and it’s great exposure for our Tassie women as well.
“Far too often we see Tassie talent go interstate to play football and try to take their football to the next level.
”This is a great opportunity to put Tassie on the map.”
A successful push for a Tasmanian A-League team would be followed swiftly by a local W-League team.
“That would be the dream,” Kannegiesser said.
“It would be so good having a Tassie team representing us and that is something to focus on in the future.”
The state senior team also consists of Bonnie Davies, Inocent Michael, Kate Ollerhead, Leah Gubb, Madi Chambers (Olympia), Laura Davis, Olivia Gardner (Kingborough), Isolina Ottavi (Taroona), Louisa Marnion, Maddy O’Brien, Zoe Nichols (Clarence Zebras), Pishon Choi (South Hobart), Chelsea Dolbel, Jazmin White (Devonport Strikers), and Emily Nellis and Lucy Reimer (Ulverstone).
Joining Leszczynski in the state youth team is her Olympia teammate Mia Cane, along with Airlee Lawson, Aline Kidd, Amy Coward, Amy Ollington, Bronte Gadon, Eloise Paine, Jessica Shreeve, Holly Bonertz-Benn, Kate Bonertz-Benn (Kingborough Lions), Bridie Cooling, Eve Swain (South Hobart), Ineeka Link (Taroona), Annalee Bidwell, Georgia Anderson, Maddy Payne (Devonport), Chelsea Wing (Riverside Olympic FC), and Gonya Luate and Jess McCallum Smith (Launceston United).
Local referee makes the W-League grand final
TASMANIAN referee Lauren Hargrave has been selected to officiate at the W-League grand final tomorrow and local soccer fraternity could not be more proud.
Hargrave will be an assistant-referee to run the line in the final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.
Football Tasmania’s referee manager Tony Peart said it was fantastic a Tasmanian was chosen to perform on the highest football stage in Australia.
“Lauren has been a trail-blazer for female referees in Tasmania,” Peart said.
“She has officiated for over ten years in the state and becoming a qualified assessor and instructor before moving to Canberra and refereeing in the W-League.
“In 2019, she took charge of the first-ever men’s top-flight match in Tasmania to be refereed by an all-female team, a feat she repeated last year in Canberra as an assistant-referee in their top-flight men’s competition.”
Hargrave’s selection showed there were “no limits” for aspiring locals, Peart said.
“It’s absolutely fantastic that her talent and dedication to the game has been recognised with the honour of being a part of one of the biggest matches on the Australian football calendar.
“I’m sure she will do herself, and the Tasmanian football family proud.”
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