Phoenix and goal-scoring defender Marisa van der Meer reach a new agreement.
Her deal with the Phoenix for the 2023–24 Liberty A-League makes her the sixth woman player to join the Nix team, along with Chloe Knott, Alyssa Whinham, Emma Main, Michaela Robertson, and Barry.
Van der Meer (age 21) was restricted to nine substitute appearances for Melbourne City in the 2021–22 season, although he emerged as one of the team’s breakout players the previous season, starting 17 of Wellington’s 18 games.
She scored three goals from set pieces and led the A-League in goals from headers while mostly playing center defense. She also placed fourth in the competition for won aerial duels and eighth for interceptions.
Van der Meer said, “I’m thrilled to be back with the Phoenix.” “It was a pleasure to have excellent game time and to be able to play professional football at home in New Zealand last season.
“I’m appreciative that I was able to start a lot of games and fill a variety of roles.
I can’t wait to return to Wellington since I truly loved the NZCIS facilities and team atmosphere.
The physiotherapy student also considered the three aims to be “a nice wee bonus.”
It’s not your objective as a defense to score a lot of goals.
“I think it’s a good addition to the team, although I was taken aback by it as well.”
Although she hasn’t yet represented the Football Ferns, Marisa van der Meer was an important member of the New Zealand teams in both the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica last year.
She competed for New Zealand in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and she now has her sights set on Paris in 2022.
“That is unquestionably the objective I’m pursuing.
“I want the Football Ferns to take notice of me and pick me up this season. Being chosen for the Olympics in Paris would be an incredible chance.
Van der Meer hasn’t participated in the Football Ferns’ training camp prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, in contrast to a number of her Phoenix colleagues.
Rather, she has joined Chloe Knott at Auckland United after completing the first of her three internships in her final year of a Bachelor of Health Science degree.
“I’ve been playing for the women’s squad and training with their under-17 and under-23 boy’s teams.
“In order to keep going and get ready for the next season, I wanted to give myself a good environment in the off-season.”
