Moorwood Keen To Maintain Her Winning Ways by Jeremy Ruane One of the brightest stars on the New Zealand women’s soccer scene, Hayley Moorwood, made a couple of welcome additions to her footballing CV this week, after a number of outstanding performances in 2003 saw her named the Northern Premier Women’s League’s Player of the Year last Saturday evening. The highly talented nineteen-year-old Lynn-Avon United midfielder is the youngest-ever winner of the award in its twenty-five year history, and this achievement earned her a share of The Jeremy Ruane Trophy, an excellence award made by the donor to recognise meritorious achievement by an individual or team from the Northern Premier Women’s League on the local, national or international stage. "It was certainly unexpected, that’s for sure", said Moorwood of her success, "but it was really pleasing to win both honours". The double recognition crowns a remarkable year for the SWANZ international, who made her debut for her country in April, and went on to win the league and the Uncle Toby’s Women’s Knockout Cup with Lynn-Avon. Right now, her sights are set on adding further to her trophy collection. "I’m keen to win the National Women’s Soccer League again, and claim another winners’ medal. I think the Auckland-Manukau team is good enough to do so, and hopefully if we play well throughout the duration of the league, we’ll realise our ambitions. "The league’s a lot stronger this year. A few of the federations have stepped up from last season, making it a good competition overall. But it comes down to winning in the end, and we’re definitely keen to do that!!" A late starter in soccer terms - Moorwood was twelve when she first started playing the game - the technically outstanding youngster is embarking on a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation course at AUT next year, and plans to cross-credit her work to the equivalent course in America, where she plans to continue her studies. "I’m looking to go to the South-West Baptist University in Missouri, where former Auckland team-mates Pip Meo and Priscilla Duncan are currently studying, next August. I’m hoping I’ll have to postpone that trip, however - the Olympic Games are on in Athens at the same time, and I’d love to be there with the SWANZ!!" To do so, winning the qualifying tournament in Vanuatu next March is the key. But before then, Moorwood has the National Women’s Soccer League on her mind, and winning it again would be the ideal way for this silky-skilled soccer star to round off her most memorable season in the game.