Lauren Mathis (17), who was born in Switzerland but moved to Gore with her family when she was 2, was on the bench in last night's opening match in the World Cup in Auckland between New Zealand and Canada.
That she made the bench at all is a tribute to her dedication and perseverance after breaking her left ankle on the football paddock just eight weeks ago.
Her mother, Jan Mathis-Collins, said in Auckland yesterday that Lauren had worked really hard in the past weeks to get back on the field and up to speed.
Lauren plays either as a striker or wide midfield and, because of her recent lack of match play, was on the bench last night, Mathis-Collins said.
Mathis-Collins said her daughter had been football-mad her whole life, and used to come home all the time from training and playing saying they had to move to Auckland to further her career.
So about three years ago, the family decided to make the move north and it is now based in Milford, north of Auckland, and Lauren attends Takapuna Grammar.
Mathis-Collins said her other children, Benjamin (15) and Katherine (20), have been very supportive of Lauren's sporting career.
The under-17 side had been training hard for the past two years for the tournament, having training camps every school holidays, Mathis-Collins said, Lauren played for her school side, the Glenfield Rovers premier women's side and the United division one side in the national squad.
Mathis-Collins said the side was receiving all the comforts of a professional side during the tournament.
The side was staying in a luxury motel, and contact with players was banned after 10am yesterday in preparation for the match.
The family was all going to last night's game, wearing white T-shirts with No 18 on the back, Lauren's playing number.
