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March 8, 2003 Late call-up for New Zealand National Team caps remarkable rise for Liz O'Meara By Jeremy Ruane The New Zealand National Team, SWANZ, go to Texas in a few days as part of their preparation for the upcoming 2003 World Cup qualifying tournament in Australia. Eight of the eighteen players will be donning the silver fern for the first time at senior level, including O'Meara who was not named originally. The late withdrawal for personal reasons of Rachel Oliver, the 2002 New Zealand International Player of the Year, has opened the door for speedy striker Liz O'Meara's entrance into the international scene. "I am pretty excited about it!" exclaimed the Takapuna goal-getter, who began her career with Forrest Hill-Milford United before transferring to Lynn-Avon United as a fourteen-year-old in 1997. She spent the next two seasons at Oratia United, before breaking through into Premier League football at Three Kings United, where she was a member of the Auckland Premier Knockout Shield-winning combination in 2000. The following year the Hamilton-born striker donned the colours of Takapuna and United Soccer for the first time, and in 2002, the former New Zealand Under-17 representative proved her worth for her province, netting eight goals to claim the Golden Boot award as top goalscorer in the inaugural National Soccer League and forcing her into the international reckoning of SWANZ coach Sandy Davie. This latest boost to her career completes a remarkable rise to the upper echelons of the game in New Zealand for the quietly-spoken twenty-year-old. Having been among those placed on stand-by for the World Cup squad, in the unlikely event of injury or other unforeseen circumstance, she has been training hard throughout the summer and is looking forward to seizing this late opportunity afforded her with both hands. "I am relishing the prospect of increasing my international experience and playing international teams," says the university student, who will link up with former Three Kings team-mates Maia Jackman and Simone Ferrara in the national squad. Having previously been a member of the national gymnastics development squad her speed and natural athleticism are likely to be key weapons in the SWANZ armoury, when the squad embarks upon the task of qualifying for the Women's World Cup Finals in Australia in April.