Erceg will captain the side as she did last season and is joined by Waikato Bay of Plenty pair Holly Patterson and Sarah McLaughlin to form the Lady Reds’ foreign contingent.
Head coach Dave Edmondson, a former Young Football Ferns mentor, welcomed back Erceg, as well as Adelaide’s new international signings.
“Abby’s return was a critical signing after her performances last year and her influence as a leader,” he says.
“Abby was a stand out defender across the league last year and has returned from the Olympics in fantastic condition raring to go for the new season,” Edmondson adds.
“Whilst Abby will again look to shore things up at the back, Sarah and Holly will add some excitement at the other end of the field. Both are attacking players with a good eye for goal, the ability to take players on and create and score goals.”
McLaughlin and Patterson have starred in the ASB Women’s Youth League over the past two seasons and their goals were crucial to Waikato Bay of Plenty’s back-to-back finals appearances.
Erceg was part of the history-making Football Ferns side that progressed to the knockout stages of the London Olympics while both McLaughlin and Patterson were alternate players in that squad. Patterson, 18, backed that up with solid performances at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with the Junior Football Ferns.
More Ferns are expected to announce their intentions to play across the ditch this season as the overseas contingent grows.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

Share