Five Victorian players, including three who spent the winter season in NPL Victoria Women's, will represent Australia at the 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship qualifiers in Lebanon.
Teresa Morrissey (Senior NTC), Sofia Sakalis (South Melbourne) and Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (Alamein FC) will link up with Future Matildas Program players MelindaJ Barbieri and Kyra Cooney-Cross as Victoria's representatives in the Westfield Young Matildas.
Australia will play against host nation Lebanon, Hong Kong and Mongolia in its qualifying group.
Australia will need to top their group, or finish as one of the two best runners-up in the first stage of qualifying, to advance to the second round of the qualification process which will be held in April next year.
Should the Westfield Young Matildas successfully navigate the two qualification tournaments, they will advance to next year’s AFC U19 Women’s Championship in Thailand where a place at the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup will be on the line.
“This month’s tournament in Lebanon marks the start of our path to the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup,” coach Gary van Egmond said.
“Almost all the players in our squad for Lebanon will benefit from involvement with Westfield W-League clubs across the country this season, which will support their development ahead of future qualifiers and tournaments with the Westfield Young Matildas,” he said.
The Westfield Young Matildas will depart Australia on Friday, 19 October 2018 and play their first qualification match against Mongolia on Wednesday, 24 October 2018.
Australia will meet hosts Lebanon two days later, before rounding out the first phase of qualifying with a match against Hong Kong on Sunday, 28 October 2018.
All the Westfield Young Matildas matches this month will be played at the Jounieh Municipal Stadium in Beirut.
Westfield Young Matildas 23-player squad for 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers (Round One)
| Name | Current Club, Country |
| Amy SAYER | Sydney FC, Australia |
| Annalee GROVE (Gk) | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
| Aoife COLVILL | Canberra United, Australia |
| Charlotte GRANT | Adelaide United, Australia |
| Courtney NEVIN | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
| Emily HODGSON | Adelaide United, Australia |
| Indiah-Paige RILEY | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
| Jacynta GALABADAARACHCHI | Perth Glory FC, Australia |
| Kaitlyn TORPEY | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
| Karly ROESTBAKKEN | Canberra United, Australia |
| Kyra COONEY-CROSS | Melbourne Victory, Australia |
| Leticia MCKENNA | Perth Glory FC, Australia |
| MelindaJ BARBIERI | Melbourne Victory, Australia |
| Morgan AQUINO (Gk) | Perth Glory FC, Australia |
| Princess IBINI-ISEI | Sydney FC, Australia |
| Rachel LOWE | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
| Sarah MORGAN | Canberra United Academy, Australia |
| Sofia SAKALIS | Melbourne City FC, Australia |
| Susan PHONSONGKHAM | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
| Taylor RAY | Sydney FC, Australia |
| Teresa MORRISSEY (Gk) | Melbourne Victory, Australia |
| Tori TUMETH | Sydney University, Australia |
| Winonah HEATLEY | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
Westfield Young Matildas Match Schedule – 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers (Round One)
Westfield Young Matildas v Mongolia
Date: Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Venue: Jounieh Municipal Stadium, Beirut
Kick-off: 11.30am (local); 7.30pm (AEDT)
Lebanon v Westfield Young Matildas
Date: Friday, 26 October 2018
Venue: Jounieh Municipal Stadium, Beirut
Kick-off: 3.30pm (local); 11.30pm (AEDT)
Westfield Young Matildas v Hong Kong
Date: Sunday, 28 October 2018
Venue: Jounieh Municipal Stadium, Beirut
Kick-off: 11.30am (local); 7.30pm (AEDT)