Wagga soccer protege Jada Mathyssen-Whyman played her first full W-League game in round three on Sunday.
Though the Western Sydney Wanderers went down 2-1 to Sydney FC, Mathyssen-Whyman made some compelling saves in what was the closest match of the season for the Wanderers.
Opposition strikers put her reflexes to the test.
“It’s a lot faster than what I’ve played in,” Mathyssen-Whyman said.
She tried to ignore the fact that the game was being televised, and was pleased to have the publicity.
“It’s come a long way, it would be good if the ABC filmed all our games,” she said.
The atmosphere was electric, as she played the curtain raiser to men’s A-League game.
Former Riverina coach Andrew Mason travelled to watch the game, and her Facebook page was flooded with messages of support from local friends.
“I’ve been missing everyone back in Wagga, so it was really good to have Andrew there for support.”
She hopes to snag her first W-League win in this week’s game against Newcastle.
Mathyssen-Whyman has been undergoing rigorous goalkeeper training.
“The training’s a lot more intense, I’m training with more boys, and if you make a mistake it holds up everyone else so you’ve always got to be on the ball,” she said.
