Rangitoto College goalkeeper Anna Leat back in Football Ferns

After playing three internationals over the past last year, Anna Leat is back at school at Rangitoto College and back in the Football Ferns squad that plays two internationals against Scotland against Spain next month.

Leat is one of three goalkeepers in the 21-player squad. She made her international debut at home in Auckland just over a year ago against Thailand, making a number of telling saves early in the game which proved crucial in the 2-0 win.

She was a member of the New Zealand U17s World Cup squad in 2016 and is eligible this year to play for the New Zealand U17s and U20s in their World Cups.

Head coach Heraf and Assistant Coach Gareth Turnbull will use this tour to build on their good start of their time in charge in November. New Zealand defeated Thailand 5-0 in their second international in Bangkok. It was the biggest win by New Zealand against opposition from outside of Oceania since 1993.
 
The World No 19 will take on the Scottish women, ranked No 23 in the world, on Saturday 3 March and Tuesday 6 March at the Pinatar Football Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar in Spain.
 
“It is an exciting squad,” said Heraf. “We have a good balance of experience and players who are at the start of their international careers and will bring a lot of enthusiasm to the group. There is everything to play for with the players fighting for places in the squad to compete at next year’s FIFA World Cup in France.”
 
Emma Rolston comes in for her first Football Ferns tour while other recently-capped players like Victoria Esson, Leat, Malia Steinmetz, Katie Rood and Stephanie Skilton, who made their international debuts in 2017, are retained.
 
Forward Rosie White (foot), midfielder Daisy Cleverley (knee) and winger Paige Satchell (knee) were ruled out through injury.
 
New Zealand last faced Scotland in March last year in the Cyprus Cup where they went down 3-2 with Amber Hearn and White on the scoresheet for the Ferns.
 
 
Football Ferns squad for internationals against Scotland (Club, Country, Caps, Goals)

Goalkeepers 
Victoria Esson (North Shore United) 1, 0
Anna Leat (Glenfield Rovers) 3, 0 
Erin Nayler (Girondins Bordeaux, France) 51, 0
Defenders
CJ Bott (USV Jena, Germany) 8, 0 
Abby Erceg (North Carolina Courage, USA) 131, 6
Anna Green (Reading, England) 65, 7
Meikayla Moore (FC Koln, Germany) 24, 0
Ali Riley © (FC Rosengard, Sweden) 113, 1
Rebekah Stott (Melbourne City, Australia) 61, 4
Midfielders 
Katie Bowen (Unattached) 49, 2
Olivia Chance (Everton, England) 8, 0
Betsy Hassett (KR Reykjavik, Iceland) 102, 8
Annalie Longo (Cashmere Technical) 103, 10
Ria Percival (FC Basel, Switzerland) 128, 13
Emma Rolston (Sydney FC, Australia) 0, 0 
Malia Steinmetz (Forrest Hill Milford United) 1, 0
Forwards
Sarah Gregorius (Upper Hutt City FC) 82, 25 
Amber Hearn (FC Koln, Germany) 122, 54
Katie Rood (Juventus, Italy) 2, 0
Stephanie Skilton (Glenfield Rovers) 3, 0 
Hannah Wilkinson (Vittsjo GIK, Sweden) 85, 25
Coaches: Andreas Heraf and Gareth Turnbull
 
Football Ferns v Scotland international friendlies
Saturday 3 March local kick off 5pm (NZT Sunday 4 March 5am)
Tuesday 6 March local kick off 11.00am (NZT Tuesday 6 March 11:00pm)
Pinatar Football Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain