On the back of Collette McCallum’s selection in the Matildas Squad for the upcoming tour to the United States, today six West Australian teenagers have travelled to Canberra as part of the young Matildas squad for trial games over the weekend.

Football West NTC squad members Marianna Tabain, Danielle Calutti, Elle Simmons, Shannon May, Samantha Kerr and Ella Mastrantonio will take part in two games over the weekend against the Australian and New Zealand Under17 squads in training matches.

NTC Coach Nicola Williams was delighted on the girl’s selection and hopes the girls do well in Canberra. “It’s been a successful two years for the Football West NTC program and the squad has worked really hard, and we are now seeing the rewards.

“We have six of our players in the young Matildas camp, and they are trying out with a squad of 32, and three in the under 17’s camp, which is fantastic for football in WA,” said Williams.

Meanwhile three more NTC squad members have been part of the Australian under 17’s women’s team that was beaten in two games this week, both 4-0, by their New Zealand counterparts. Jaymee Gibbons, Sadie Lawrence, Samantha Kerr were part of the squad for the game, and they will now meet the young Matildas in matches this weekend.
 
The youthful Australian squad, who were at least two years junior to their Kiwi counterparts, gave Coach Gary Phillips a look at players as part of a development program, focusing on the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup campaign.

New Zealand meanwhile fielded a side which will largely make up the squad that will compete on home soil in this year's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

The two Aussie squads are in the early stages of preparation for their respective 2010 world youth cup campaigns with Asian qualification matches due to start later this year.

YOUNG MATILDAS SQUAD
17-20 April, AIS – Coach Alen Stajcic
Teresa Polias, Britt Simmons, Carly Ikonomou, Jess Seaman, Kyah Simon, Sam Spackman, Jenna Kingsley, Linda O'Neill, Elizabeth O'Reilly, Loren Mahoney, Nicola Bolger, Karina Roweth, Hayley Abbot, Ashley Sykes, Nicole Sykes (all NSW), Monique Kofoed, Elise Kellond-Knight, Tameka Butt, Sophie Hogben, Alisha Foote, Casey Dumont, Vedrana Popovic, Ruth Blackburn (all Qld), Ella Mastrantonio, Marianna Tabain, Danielle Calutti, Elle Simmons, Shannon May, Samantha Kerr (all WA), Sian McLaren, Angela Formida (both SA), Emily Van Egmond (Northern NSW).

UNDER 17 WOMEN'S TEAM
14-18 April, AIS – Coach Gary Phillips
Sally Thurston (Qld), Nicole Calder, Ruth Wallace, Ashlee Faul, Lily Ryden (all SA), Emily Van Egmond, Tara Andrews, Georgia Peterson, Sarah Grist, Madeline Searle (all Northern NSW), Nicola Bolger, Teagan Allen, Hannah Brewer, Riarna Keane, Sharni Brown, Caitlin Foord, Candance Sciverras (all NSW), Jaymee Gibbons, Sadie Lawrence, Samantha Kerr (all WA), Adelyn Ayton (Tasmania), Brianna Davey (Victoria).