The tournament staged at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra will see the nation’s best young female soccer talent on show, all of whom will be looking to impress selectors for a chance to move towards the Matildas pathway. 

Mathews moved to Newcastle at the start of the year to further her soccer career.

She currently plays for the Emerging Jets – an under 17s team in the reserve grade competition of the NSW women’s NPL, alongside fellow AWFA junior Ellen Rimmer, who has also made the NTC Challenge side. 

The 15-year-old admitted it has been a huge step up, but she’s welcomed the challenge and is looking forward to the biggest tournament of her young career.

“I played for NSW Country last year and this tournament is a pathway for the Young Matildas as well,” she said. 

“I’m excited, but I’ve got some nerves.”

The tick of approval was given by a number of nationally-recognised coaches, including former Australian Matildas and Newcastle Jets mentor Gary van Egmond.

When she’s had the chance, Mathews has travelled back home to play with her beloved Albury City.

In a special moment earlier this season, she played alongside her younger sister Montanna for the first time in the senior women’s side in City’s 7-0 win against St Pats.

Albury City president Cam Burns said the club is extremely proud of everything Mathews has achieved and is delighted to call her one of their own.

“Mackensy has represented Albury City in every female age group and division over the past six years, not to mention various mixed teams as well, and has excelled in each of those grades,” Burns said.

“We always hope girls like Mackensy will always call Albury City home.

“We’ve been fortunate when she has come home that we’ve had a number of players out and she has stepped into the (senior women’s) team like she hasn’t been out of it.”

Mathews joins a string of AWFA products to have made their way through a similar pathway to reach this tournament.

More recently, Boomers’ young gun Joey Cartwright, who had been a star on the rise for sometime at Glen Park, well and truly staked her claims by playing in the NTC Challenge for Victoria at the AIS in 2014.

At just 14 years of age, she was picked in an Australian under-16 girls squad that played in Asia later that year.

Cartwright franked her credentials with two goals in the mini-Matildas’ 10-0 win against Hong Kong in Malaysia.

The talented teenager has returned to Boomers in season 2017 and will play an important role in their quest for the senior women’s league and cup titles as the campaign heads towards the business end.