American midfielder Shawna Gordon was pivotal in Western Sydney Wanderers scoring an important win over Newcastle Jets on Sunday.
Western Sydney Wanderers have well and truly got their season back on track after a disastrous injury-plagued opening.
The Wanderers impressed with a 3-0 home win over Perth Glory and repeated the feat against Newcastle Jets on Sunday with Shawn Gordon defying some oppressive heat in a player of the match performance.
The 23-year-old has played an understated but pivotal role for the Wanderers as a defensive midfielder. Along with Camille Levin and the injured Tori Huster, Gordon is one of three Americans in the Wanderers line-up, with the San Diego native saying she has enjoyed her experience Down Under both on and off the field.
Have you recovered from playing in 40 degree heat yet on Sunday? Sunday was really warm, and a lot of us weren-t used to that. But we had a good recovery session and final training session before Christmas. I have (played in weather that warm) though it has been a while. I was definitely feeling it (the heat).
How are you enjoying the W-League? I am really enjoying it actually. The team is great, the atmosphere is great and I-m starting to see a bit of Sydney now which is nice as well. It is my first time in Australia so I-m definitely excited on different levels.
How are you enjoying the football experience? I-m really enjoying it. Everyone on the team is really competitive and wants to win which is good to have. I-m here to gain more experience. I think it is good to venture out and play in different environments, and it helps my game.
What aspects of living in Australia have you enjoyed? I have been out a bit so far to the Blue Mountains and to the beaches and to the city, so I have had the chance to get out, and I will be exploring more. Travel is always interesting and it is good to see and compare different places. I have met some great girls on the team too, who I can imagine having lifelong friendships with.
Has it helped having a couple of fellow Americans in the team? I have known Cammy (Camille Levin) and I have known Tori before I came here. I became really good friends with Kyah (Simon) at Boston as well. It is comforting knowing someone before you come to a country.
How did you come to be in Australia? I met Kyah in Boston. I knew that this season was the right timing for me coming back from injury. Kyah told me about the W-League, and I knew it was where I wanted to play. She didn-t believe me at first that I would come, but one day I just said ‘I-m coming-!
What are you doing for Christmas? I-m hanging around with the family that I-m staying with. Having a BBQ by the pool and an Aussie Christmas.
What differences have you noticed between the WNSL in the US and the W-League? Nothing too much stands out. Here we play a lot less and therefore train a lot less so that is a major difference.
Who is your funniest team-mate? Servet (Uzunlar), she has a great personality and is really funny.
And coolest? Well, I have become really good friends with Linda O-Neill so I would have to see ‘Nitty-.
Who is your toughest team-mate, or to put it another way, or who you want next to you when the going gets tough? Cammy. I love playing with her. She works really hard, I know her work ethic and I have known here since I was ten.