news, latest-news

Canberra United defender Ellie Brush's disappointment at missing the Women's World Cup has been offset with the opportunity to "live her dream" in the premier women's soccer club competition on the planet. Brush will fly to the US this week to join the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League as an injury replacement for Canberra United team-mate Stephanie Ochs. Ochs will miss the next nine months after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee. Brush was in line earlier this year to win her first cap for the Matildas since 2012 before she suffered a quad injury in a training camp with the national team. That ruled Brush out of the tour of New Zealand and ultimately ended her chances of making the Matildas squad for next month's Women's World Cup in Canada. "I was later told I would have been travelling with the team and starting against North Korea, so that was a bit of a shame and pretty sad," Brush said. "So I missed that tour and couldn't really be brought into the tour of Europe. "It's very disappointing, but this is the second-best thing to a World Cup and is a bit of silver lining." Brush has been the backbone of the Canberra United defence since the inception of the W-League in 2008. She had another terrific campaign as part of United winning the club's second national championship last season. The 26-year-old has recovered from her quad injury and has been playing for Box Hill in the women's Victorian Premier League. She received a call from a player agent at the end of last week to gauge her interest in joining the Dash. Brush has consulted with Ochs and also discussed what the American league was like with Canberra teammates Lori Lindsey and Kendall Fletcher. "It came a bit out of the blue and has happened very quickly over the last 48 hours," Brush said. "It's always been a bit of a dream of mine to play in the pro league over there. "I've got a bit of weight on my shoulders to hopefully come in and be a bit of saviour in the centre-back role." Brush could make her debut for the Dash as early as Saturday's game against Chicago. She will remain in the US until September before returning to Australia for her eighth season with Canberra United. "I've spoken to Rae (coach Rae Dower) and Heather (chief executive Heather Reid) and they're keen I have a little bit of a break," Brush said. "I'll miss a little bit of pre-season, but I'll be coming back fit so that's not a concern. "It's just about giving the body a bit of a break before being sweet for the first round."

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/6f431d0a-d41c-4bf7-80fb-967b476362a2/r0_126_2000_1256_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg