Adelaide United striker Mariah Lee was pleased to get herself on the scoresheet in her first Liberty A-Leagues game last Sunday and is now focussed on helping her side get its first win of the campaign.
The Reds will take on competition newcomers Central Coast as part of a women’s and men’s double-header at Coopers Stadium on Friday evening.
Lee smashed her side’s second penalty against Canberra at the weekend into the roof of the net and posed a regular threat in attack during the 4-4 draw.
While Adelaide didn’t trouble the scorers often enough last season, Lee is excited by the attacking options the side possesses this season.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the experienced American recruit also discussed playing her first game at Coopers Stadium, keeping tighter defensively and just how the side decided to have two different penalty takers against Canberra.
Mariah Lee on her first A-League experience:
“It was great. I think scoring four goals is a huge confidence booster. I know they struggled to score in the past. So, one of our goals was to attack and I think, Stents (coach Adrian Stenta) did a great job of getting us on the same page, and I’m excited, I want to have a lot of fun and score some goals this season.
I kind of just go in and try to soak in as much as I can. And the stadium, the fans, that side of things just blew every expectations I had out of the water. But it was nice to get together. So many of us it was our first time playing together, I think our whole attacking side, we’re all new. And so it was just nice to feel that cohesion and it’s always good to go out firing from the start, and we can just build from there.”
Mariah Lee on how the side has worked to tighten up defensively.
“Soccer is a team sport, so collectively, we need to do a better job. We all need to tighten up and we can’t be letting four goals in. ‘
“But I think from the coaching staff through every person on the team we’ve bought in, and we just want to improve every week. And that’s our goal.”
Mariah Lee on scoring her first goal for the side, and having two different penalty takers on Sunday:
“I think the decision was just made on the fly. We all get along really well. And so we kind of just had a little chat and I stepped up, I stepped up and I took the second one. And when you make it, you know, it’s always a great decision.”
Mariah Lee on the excitement in the group around this week’s A-League women’s and men’s double header at Coopers Stadium:
“We’re so excited to have the (crowd) turnout from last week. For the firs game following the World Cup it was huge. And to have the doubleheader here again – the ground is amazing, the grass is amazing and having the fans (behind us) goes such a long way. I’m just really excited that I’m soaking it all in.”
