Late Beginner Hayley’s Star Keeps On Rising by Jeremy Ruane New Zealand Under-19 women’s soccer star Hayley Moorwood is living proof that those who start late in a sport can be just as successful as those who enjoy the benefits of an early introduction. The fleet-footed Lynn-Avon United midfielder is, over the next fortnight, representing her country at the Oceania Under-19 Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Tonga. It’s not something she would have envisaged herself doing seven years ago. "I didn’t start playing soccer till I was twelve. I played the game a couple of times at St. Dominic’s Primary School and liked it, so mum took me down to our local club, Lynn-Avon, to sign up, and I’ve been here ever since". Moorwood has certainly taken to the beautiful game like a duck to water. Already she has winners’ medals in both the Uncle Toby’s Women’s Knockout Cup and Northern Premier Women’s League to her name, while an even bigger prize is awaiting her in the not-too-distant future. "My fellow SWANZ U-19 team-mates, Priscilla Duncan and Amber Hearn, and I were offered a four-year soccer scholarship at the South-West Baptist University in Missouri, USA, at the end of last year. "Naturally, we’re all really excited by this fantastic opportunity, and we’re busily saving up for the trip. Priscilla’s going over in August, while Amber and I will travel either in January or, most likely, August next year". Hayley intends studying Sports Management during her scholarship, while she is open-minded about her future career. "I wouldn’t mind being a PE teacher. If not that, then a physiotherapist or something to do with the business side of sports management. "Ideally, I’d like to make a career out of soccer", says the precociously talented youngster, whose preferred position is central midfield, although she’s just as happy rampaging up and down the left flank for club and country. "My ultimate ambition is to be selected for the SWANZ, but right now, I’m really looking forward to the qualifying tournament in Tonga". The Under-19 tournament will be the second time Hayley has represented New Zealand on foreign soil, having been a member of the SWANZ Under-17 squad which took part in the Australian Youth State Championships in Brisbane two years ago. photo copyright NZ Soccer She scored against Tasmania in that tournament, and also found the target against South Australia during last year’s quadrangular women’s international tournament at Bill McKinlay Park, an event which formed part of New Zealand’s preparations for the Women‘s World Cup qualifiers they are about to take part in. "As a squad", says Hayley, "we have a good chance of giving Australia a good run for their money, although we’ll welcome the chance to acclimatise to the weather conditions, which is the reason why we are leaving five days before our first match". The Under-19s kick-off their quest to qualify for the August finals in Canada with a match against Samoa on Tuesday evening. American Samoa, on Thursday afternoon, provide their next opponents, while a clash with Fiji marks their Saturday evening agenda. The semi-finals take place on Wednesday, May 1, with the final set down for two days later, after which, the way Hayley’s star keeps on rising, the sky’s the limit.