Player Feature: Three West Coast Rangers Women Reflect on Journey to OFC U19 Championships

Nov 17, 2025--The West Coast Rangers Premier Women’s squad have had a standout year, winning the 2025 Lotto NRFL League title, and proving themselves to be one of New Zealand’s most competitive squads throughout the ongoing NZ National League. Contributing heavily to the growth and success of the Women’s WCR squad are Emily Lyon, Kenzie Longmuir, and Sophie Campbell– who recently were called up to represent New Zealand on the international stage in Tahiti at the Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) Women’s Championship and U20 FIFA World Cup Qualifier. We caught up with the trio to reflect on their journey so far, their experiences representing New Zealand Football, and their growth throughout the process.

Emily Lyon: "It's the one percenters that no one sees that make you better. One percenters separate the best from the rest."

Starting her football career at just four years old, Emily Lyon’s love of the game and connection to the club runs deep. “I’ve been part of this club since I was four years old," she says, reflecting on her time with the West Coast Rangers, which was formed from one of two clubs in the region– Norwest United. “I started out with what used to be Norwest United, playing in a mixed team until I was 13, and then worked my way up the ranks of the female space.”

When asked when she first realized she might have a chance to break into the New Zealand National Team, Lyon explains, “I don’t think there was a particular moment but it's always been the goal. I'd been on the outskirts of a few previous cycles, but knowing this was my last age-group cycle, I really wanted to go all in.” That determination paid off, as Lyon’s performance in the Auckland ID game left her with a strong sense of confidence. “After the Auckland ID game, I had a pretty good gut feeling that I might be involved in the next steps and once I made the July camp selection, my confidence and belief in myself really started to grow."

Lyon’s success with the New Zealand U19s has been marked by several memorable moments. Among the highlights, one stands out above the rest. “There were definitely a few highlights especially when you're repping your country; qualifying for a World Cup, coming away with the golden boot and a gold medal alongside a top bunch of girls,” she shares. “But my favourite would have to be our last pool game against Vanuatu where I got to wear the captain’s armband, bagged 5 goals, and received the OFC Player of the Match award.”

“This tournament helped me grow both on and off the field, as a player and as a leader. The competitive environment and the drive from both players and staff to keep lifting standards pushed me to keep improving and learning throughout the tour,” Lyon explains. The tournament also helped her improve off-field habits, where she learned the importance of recovery and nutrition. “Off the field, I learned how important recovery is– things like ice baths, good nutrition, and proper rest. It made me realise how much of a difference those habits make to performance and how important it is to keep doing them outside the NZF environment.”

Like any athlete, she has faced her share of struggles, particularly when it comes to the mental side of the game. “As an athlete, there’s always injuries, which sucks, but for me being a very passionate player, the mental side of the game used to be something I really struggled with,” she admits. “I would get fixated on calls from the ref, mistakes I would make, and other things out of my control that would lead to me losing my head and pretty much taking myself out of the game.” Overcoming these mental hurdles required self-awareness and a shift in mindset. “It became obvious that I was a hot head and was something I worked on massively to try to improve and gain control of,” she says. Techniques like focusing on her breathing, using self-talk, and relying on teammates for support helped Lyon manage her emotions during intense moments.

Lyon attributes her success to a combination of on-field focus and off-field time & dedication. “On the field I give whatever my 100% on the day looks like, and always trying to make things competitive where I can– whether that’s internally or amongst my teammates. Off the field, working hard in the gym, prioritising recovery and fuelling my body properly is essential.”

For young players aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Lyon’s advice is simple yet powerful: “You can’t coach or train effort - either you're willing to or you're not. If you are, you’re already ahead of someone who can’t be bothered.” Lyon adds that it’s the unseen efforts that truly set players apart. “It’s the one percenters that no one sees that makes you better. Doing it when you're tired, when it's hard, when you're unmotivated are just as if not more important than when people are watching. One percenters separate the best from the rest.”

Kenzie Longmuir: "It's not a race, you're not running behind, and if you nurture your love and passion and continue to work hard, opportunities will meet you eventually."

Kenzie Longmuir got her start in football at Hibiscus Coast FC, where she grew up playing with boys from ages 4 to 13 before transitioning to girls' football at what was previously Forest Hill FC. “I got my first premier team minutes at age 15 playing for Northern Rovers, a team with which I first won the Northern Premier League title in 2022. From there, I joined the West Coast Rangers squad in 2023 and have loved achieving new heights with an amazing team and community.” Longmuir recently left New Zealand to pursue a dual degree in Business Administration & Psychology and play football in a new environment at the University of Cumberlands in the United States. 

Longmuir only recently realized she might have a chance to represent New Zealand at the international level when she received an invitation to the U19s training camp before the OFC Qualifiers earlier this year. “I only came to the realization that I might have a chance to represent NZ when I received the invite email to the U19s training camp held earlier this year before the OFC Qualifiers,” she explains. That email marked the start of what would be an unforgettable journey with the New Zealand U19s.

One of Longmuir’s most cherished experiences with the U19s was the overwhelming support she received from her family, friends, and the wider football community. “My personal highlight playing for the NZ U19s was seeing the love, support, and pride shown from back home,” she says. “Whether that be from my family, the footballing community, or the girls that I have had the absolute pleasure and privilege of coaching – all of it made my journey worthwhile.”

The U19 OFC Tournament was a significant catalyst for Longmuir’s development, helping her grow both as a player and as a person. “Being in an environment with so many growth-focused players and coaches has really inspired me to continue pushing myself over here in the States to become the best player that I can so that I can continue to represent, not just my country, but also those who have put so much into helping me become the player I am today,” she reflects. 

When asked about the challenges she has faced in football, Longmuir shares her emphasis on maintaining a growth-mindset: “There are moments of struggle in every athlete’s life. Whether that be related to performance, expectations, personal matters, or an athlete’s relationship with their sport. I hope to continue overcoming the challenges I face by focusing on the next steps and trusting that no matter what happens: my sport does not define me – it’s just an opportunity for growth.”

Longmuir credits her involvement in the Athlete Development Programme as a major factor that has helped her reach the NZ national pool, particularly in building strong habits and routine: “My involvement in the Athlete Development programme helped me immensely in getting ahead physically and in developing the discipline that it takes to reach the representative level,” she says.

Longmuir offers valuable advice to younger players dreaming of following in her footsteps: “It’s hard to choose just one piece of advice that I would give to a younger player dreaming of representing NZ,” she says. “If I had to, I would say that it’s not a race, you’re not running behind, and if you nurture your love and passion for football and continue to work hard, opportunities will meet you eventually.”

Sophie Campbell: "Don't let mistakes define you, everyone makes mistakes including professionals."

Sophie Campbell joined the West Coast Rangers family this year, and has immediately made an impact on and off the field in her role as goalkeeper. She began her football journey in her hometown of New Plymouth, playing junior football at FC Western on a boys team. At the age of 14 she joined her first women’s team and also made her debut for Central Football in the NZ National League. At age 16, she transitioned to playing for Palmerston North Marist in the Central league, and the following year she played for Hamilton Wanderers to compete in the Northern League. Along the way, Campbell’s talent was recognized on the national level, as she represented New Zealand at the OFC U16 Championship and the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

“This year I made the move up to Auckland and was fortunate enough that Paul Gothard put me in contact with Andy Clay so I was able to play for WCR this year. This year has definitely been my favourite year of club football, as I was able to play for a top team against tough Auckland opponents every week and develop great connections with my teammates,” Campbell shares.

Campbell’s international aspirations began at a young age, and she first realized the potential of representing New Zealand when she was invited to a U17 training camp at just 14 years old. “At the age of 14 I was invited to my first NZ U17 training camp, which made me realise I wanted to represent my country on the world stage,” she reflects. The experience of competing with players older than her at these camps assisted in her growth, pushing her to raise her game to new heights.

At the OFC Championships this year, Campbell shared, “A personal highlight would be gaining more international experience and creating connections with my teammates,” she says. “Although I was not busy during the OFC tournament it was still a great opportunity to build connections on the field with my teammates and get used to their playing style.”

Campbell echoes the praise given by Lyon & Longmuir of the NZF training environment, sharing the impact on her personal game: “Being in a group of like-minded girls has definitely helped me grow as a player,” she says. “We were always pushing each other to be better on and off the pitch, which I felt really helped our performances improve throughout the tournament.” 

When asked about obstacles she faced along her football journey, Campbell shared that injury caused her to struggle with both physical setbacks and a lack of game time. “Last year I really struggled with injuries and not getting the game time I wanted,” she admits. “I suffered a finger injury which kept me sidelined for 6 weeks.” However, rather than letting these challenges define her, Campbell adapted her training to focus on areas she could still improve. “To overcome the disappointment I changed my training to focus on components I could still do, which was my footwork. This helped distract myself and improved my distribution,” she explains. Additionally, Campbell learned to accept that not all aspects of her football career are within her control. “With not getting the game time I wanted, I had to come to terms that coaches will have their opinions which I cannot control, and all I can do is perform my best when I do get the opportunity.”

One of the habits that Campbell credits with helping her make the national pool is the experience of playing for teams at the lower end of the table. “Playing for bottom of the table teams meant that I was able to make plenty of saves and decisions every week,” she says. “This also helped me build a thoughtful and resilient mindset. Losing most games meant I focused more on my own performance without having to worry about the team’s performance.” Campbell also shares, “Another habit that has helped me is working hard and bringing intensity into trainings, which helps me better prepare for games rather than just going through the motions.”

For young players, especially aspiring goalkeepers, Campbell has one essential piece of advice: don’t let mistakes define you. “A piece of advice I would give to a young player, especially a goalkeeper, would be to not let mistakes define you, everyone makes mistakes including professionals,” she advises. “When I was younger I used to get really down if I let in a soft goal and would only focus on my mistake for the remainder of the game. But I later realised it wasn’t that deep, you make mistakes then and you will continue making them for the rest of your playing career,” she shares. “You’re still human and have to move on.”

What's next?

The trio’s sights are set on making the next round of New Zealand competition, the U20 FIFA World Cup hosted in Poland, September 2026. Whether competing for West Coast Rangers, or New Zealand Football, the future is looking bright for the three footballers.