Glory be! Head girl Hana’s instant impact

Football West Technical Manager Cris Ola has hailed 16-year-old Hana Lowry after the Hyundai NTC youngster’s stunning impact in the Westfield W-League.

Lowry marked her first start for Perth Glory with a goal to put her side in the lead away at Newcastle Jets on Thursday.

Her thunderous header in the 22nd minute helped inspire Glory to a 4-2 win – their first of the 2019-20 campaign.

Hana Lowry action shot two
Lowry representing Football West’s Hyundai NTC at last year’s NTC Challenge

Lowry had been training at Glory for 18 months on a Football West-funded scholarship before signing a full contract only last week.

She featured in the NTC Challenge for Football West last season, and three other players who have come through the NTC program were involved in Glory’s win over the Jets.

Goalkeeper Morgan Aquino also made her first start while Leticia McKenna, who replaced Lowry in the second half, and Isabella Wallhead began the match on the bench.

Ola said it was fantastic to see Lowry do so well and that Glory’s line-up reflected well on the Hyundai NTC program.

REPORT: Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory

He said: Hana’s development was outstanding for the last 18 months, she simply gets better every week, having an excellent attitude both in training and matches.

“Her technical ability is improving consistently and being a smart, creative player is a huge bonus.

“It comes as an extension of her excellent performances with the Junior Matildas last year.

“We are looking forward to assist her journey going forward this year with the Hyundai NTC program, Perth Glory Women and the Junior Matildas.”

Junior Matildas
Lowry, centre, was one of five WA players who represented the Junior Matildas at the 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championships in Thailand

 

Speaking to FOX Sports after the game, Lowry said: “It’s a dream come true.

“The girls did so well and it’s such a great feeling to get the three points that I think we really deserved to get.

“It’s been amazing, all the girls are so supportive and always encouraging and making you feel welcome.

“Obviously being younger it’s a bit nerve-wracking but they make you feel good about it.”

The Westfield Junior Matildas star is well and truly on the rise and her goal against the Jets is testament to that, as Lowry will hope to have a strong finish to the 2019/20 Westfield W-League campaign.

At the age of 16 there’s plenty of development to come from Lowry, who began at Cockburn City and is keen to emulate her footballing idols.

Technical manager Cris Ola
Football West Technical Manager Cris Ola

“Some of the Matildas like Sam Kerr  and Lisa De Vanna, they’re some of the players I really like watching, I try and do things like they do,” Lowry said.

Speaking after the game, Perth Glory head coach Bobby Despotovski was delighted Lowry could get on the scoresheet in her starting debut for the club where he himself used to score top-notch goals on a weekly basis in his playing days.

“Absolutely delighted for Hana,” Despotovski said.

“Hana is a young prospect and she had her first start, and what a goal that was.

“It took us by surprise because the corner was delivered with some pace as well.

“For that ball to change direction so dramatically, it had a lot of pace on it.”

Despotovski
Despotovski was pleased with Lowry’s first Westfield W-League start

 

Three other players who have come through the NTC program were aslo involved in Glory’s win over the Jets.

Despotovski said his side’s ability to build on the lead created by Lowry’s early strike and push on for a 4-2 win was exactly what they deserved for wanting the result more than Newcastle on the night.

“It’s what we deserved, they work extra hard in the game,” he said.

“They worked so hard and definitely 100% deserved everything they got from this game.

“At the end of the day we wanted this game more than Jets I think.

“They looked a little bit sluggish at times to be quite honest, I think our players took full advantage.

“We played our style of football and we scored goals.”

Perth head into the international break in seventh place – one spot higher than the Jets after Thursday night’s result – with a home clash against Brisbane scheduled for Round 12.

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