Cultured Matildas’ midfielder Leah Blayney is set to join Canberra United in December, once she has completed her commitments in the USA, returning to the Westfield W-League for the Season Three having come to a verbal agreement with United Coach Ray Junna.
Cultured Matildas- midfielder Leah Blayney is set to join Canberra United in December, once she has completed her commitments in the USA, returning to the Westfield W-League for the Season Three having come to a verbal agreement with United Coach Ray Junna.
Blayney, who played two matches for Sydney FC in Season One of the Westfield W-League, is currently enjoying life Stateside where she has made a big splash on the local USA College scene with Central Connecticut State University and latterly with the Boston Aztecs, the reserve club to the Boston Breakers professional team.
Born in Katoomba, NSW, Blayney has Australian caps at schoolgirl, under-20 (Young Matildas) and full international level, making her senior breakthrough as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with China in Beijing in 2004, going on to make thirteen appearances for the full national team, four of which came on the Asian tour prior to her heading to the USA .
Moving to the USA to pursue a scholarship, Blayney originally attended Auburn University before starring for Central Connecticut where, over her collegiate career, she amassed 21 goals and 20 assists in a total of 61 appearances giving her a total of 62 points which places her fourth on the all-time list of achievers at Central Connecticut. Her 21 goals is the fifth highest ever at the college while her 20 assists rank her third of all-time and to cap her time with Central Connecticut Blayney was awarded the 2009 North East Conference Player of the Year.
Playing with the Boston Aztecs for 2010 Blayney continued her irrepressible form by being named ‘Final Four- MVP in the WPSL, as well as WPSL East Player of the Year, as she crowned her season with a championship medal as the Aztecs defeated Ajax America 2-1 in the Grand Final.
Having graduated through the ranks of NSWIS it was little surprise that Blayney was signed by Sydney FC for the inaugural Westfield W-League season. Her return to Australia will see her in the green of Canberra United and provides a chance for supporters to see how this playmaker has matured into a wonderful talent.
