Rutherford College student Evie Colegate recently had the outstanding opportunity to represent New Zealand

Rutherford College student Evie Colegate recently had the outstanding opportunity to represent New Zealand at the OFC U-15 Girls Youth Development Tournament in Lautoka, Fiji. 

This was a significant moment for New Zealand Football, as it was the first time a New Zealand female U-15 side had entered the Oceania tournament. Evie was one of only a small number of Auckland players selected in the 16-player squad, which included players from across New Zealand and overseas. 

New Zealand had an incredibly successful tournament, winning all four matches without conceding a goal. They opened with an 8–0 win over New Caledonia, followed by a 3–0 win against Fiji. In the third group match, Evie captained the side against Cook Islands, helping lead New Zealand to a 9–0 victory and scoring two goals herself. 

The team then went on to face Samoa in the final, where they produced another dominant performance, winning 12–0. Evie added another goal in the final, finishing the tournament with three goals overall. 

While Evie found the back of the net, she also played much of the tournament on the wing, a role she really enjoyed. From this position, she was able to create chances for her teammates and set up a number of goals throughout the tournament. 

Representing New Zealand is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of Evie and everything she has achieved. She should be extremely proud of her contribution to such a successful campaign.

by Daniel Martin