Midfielder Leticia McKenna has got her senior international career off to a flying start by scoring in Australia’s 5-0 romp over Mawali at the FIFA Series in Kenya. The 23-year old became Matilda #243 when she came off the bench in the 78th minute as a replacement for Alex Chidiac, who put away Australia’s third goal.

The game was deep in stoppage time when Leticia completed Australia’s five-star performance. Hayley Raso ran the ball forward from midfield before slipping it into the path of Leticia, who took one touch before tucking it across the goalkeeper and into the far bottom corner.

Leticia, who played juniors for Cockburn City, became the first West Australian to make her Matilda’s debut since Samantha Kerr pulled on the green and gold seventeen years ago. Kerr was also on the scoresheet, netting Australia’s second goal with Emily van Egmond and Holly McNamara bagging the remainder.

Prior to the game, Leticia spoke of being called into camp for the first time. “I didn’t know how to react. Just so happy, a bit overwhelmed, had a few tears, then called my parents,” she said. “You dream of it your whole career, whole childhood, from when you were a kid. To be in this environment and have the opportunity is something that I’ll definitely cherish forever.”

Making the moment all the more special was a message from Matilda’s captain Samantha Kerr, who used to pick up a young Leticia from school on their way to training at Perth Glory. “Sam just flicked me a message and said ‘oi, come to Matildas camp’,” she said. “That was obviously really special, with the fact that she reached out. It was really nice for her to take the time to do so is amazing.”

“It’s so nice to be able to play with the girls I grew up playing with. I know Morgan (Aquino) and Sam (Kerr) from my time at Perth Glory, (Kaitlyn) Torpey and Wini (Heatley) from Brisbane Roar, Wini, Torpey and Holly (McNamara) from Melbourne City. It’s been great. It makes it a bit easier to see familiar faces.”