It’s been a frustrating string of results of late for the Wellington Phoenix women but regardless off the field, something special has been blossoming amongst their overseas talent.
The Phoenix had an influx of foreign footballers join their ranks for this season with Americans Hope Breslin and Hailey Davidson along with Canadian keeper Rylee Foster and US-raised Venezuelan forward Mariana Speckmaier all signing.
The team then also added US college star Isabel Cox in December as an injury replacement for Grace Wisnewski, who ruptured her ACL in November.
Phoenix captain Annalie Longo said the quintet have had a big impact on the rest of the squad.
"They’ve been fantastic coming in," Longo said.
"I think it’s hard for anyone coming in to connect and feel part of the team but they’ve been so good – their work off the field has been amazing to join the culture and buy in to what the club is trying to achieve.
"And on the field, you’ve seen the quality already."
That quality helped the Phoenix get off to their best-ever start this season, surpassing last year’s win tally just six matches into their new campaign.
Complimenting Kiwi mainstays like Longo, Speckmaier has led the way for the internationals with three goals and two assists to date while Breslin has scored twice. Cox found the back of the net in just her third match in Sunday’s controversial loss to the Roar.
At the other end of the pitch, Foster completed her return to football from a horror car accident to don the club’s No.1 jersey while Davidson has started all 11 of the Phoenix’s matches to date.
Davidson said her first season with the Phoenix has been warming up on her.
Women’s team has been building a winning culture while waiting for results to fall their way. (Source: 1News)
"It’s been great, the sun’s finally come out," the 24-year-old said.
“It’s a beautiful place to live. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Everything is brand new and amazing to me."
Davidson, who played for the University of Oklahoma and University of Pittsburgh in College before an eventual short stint at Mallbacken in Sweden, said the foreign contingent have grown close this season.
"We’re actually all roommates so we’re all together, all the time," she grinned.
"For example, this was my first Christmas away from home, across the world, and I know they were all in the same position as well so we all just came together and are a little family inside our big family that we have on the team."
She added it’s a sacrifice she knew was coming.
"It’s what you sign up for. I kind of knew after college that I wanted to keep playing, regardless of where that would take me because I’m not going to stop playing because of where it moves me across the world.
"Having an open mindset is super important as an international player because you could end up anywhere and I think that’s the fun in it.
"I wouldn’t change it for anything."
The Phoenix will be looking to channel some of that positivity as they continue another stretch of road games in Sydney on Friday against the Mariners, having lost their last four matches away from home. Table-toppers Melbourne City are then next.
But Longo said the side are just missing "the final bit of quality" needed to turn it around.
"We're midway through the season now and these games are so important for us," she said.
"Hopefully we can go into the game being confident because we do know how important these next two matches are."
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