13/2/23
Above: Brianna Edwards has received a late call-up to the New Zealand squad. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix’s Brianna Edwards and Michaela Foster today joined the Football Ferns squad in Hamilton to prepare for the team’s internationals against Portugal and Argentina.
Edwards, 20, has been called up to replace first-choice goalkeeper Vic Esson, who is injured. The New Zealand U-20 international was in the Ferns squad that played the USA last month.
She has started all 11 of the Phoenix’s matches this season in the absence of club captain Lily Alfeld.
Foster, a former New Zealand age group international, has been called into the senior squad for the first time after impressing for the Nix, playing every minute of her first professional season. The 24-year-old replaces clubmate Grace Wisnewski as the Ferns’ training player.
Wisnewski has withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons and will remain with the Phoenix during the international window.
Betsy Hassett, Paige Satchell, Mackenzie Barry, and Kate Taylor will also assemble with the Football Ferns in Hamilton today.
New Zealand’s match against 22nd-ranked Portugal is this Friday night (17th February) at Waikato Stadium. They will meet 29th-ranked Argentina at the same venue next Monday (20th February), before playing the South American nation again at North Harbour Stadium on the following Thursday night (23rd February).
Foster will re-join the Phoenix after the first match against Argentina with Hassett, Satchell, Barry, Taylor, and Edwards to return to club duties just a couple of days before the team’s round 15 match against Sydney FC at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday, February 26.
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