Alamein FC’s new American import Hannah Keane hasn’t taken long to make an impact in this season’s WNPL Victoria competition, scoring a hat-trick in her side’s most recent 4-1 rout of Box Hill.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for the winger. A successful college career with the San Diego State Aztecs saw her win the Mountain title in 2014, and end as the fifth highest scorer in the school’s history with 29 goals, and the seventh highest assist provider in the school’s history with 16 across four seasons.
She then studied abroad last year at Sunderland University in the UK, playing for Newcastle United’s women’s side before graduating and moving to Alamein.
The forward said she was proud of how her new side had bounced back in Round 2 following a disappointing defeat in the opening game of the season against Calder United.
“I think we were more connected. We were definitely focused. We went in not thinking it was going to be a breeze in the first game,” she said.
“I think we wouldn’t have been able to play as well as we did this week if we hadn’t lost last week”.
The tall American, who was the player of the match against Box Hill, also reserved some individual praise for fellow forward, youngster Melina Ayres.
“I get goosebumps just talking about her, because I can see her potential,” Keane said.
“She’s already amazing – a couple more years of playing at this level [and] she’s going to be awesome.
“It’s been such a pleasure playing with her.”
Keane is just one of a number of American imports plying their trade in Victoria’s premier women’s competition, and she revealed that it was a conversation with current Bulleen Lions striker Taryne Boudreau – whom she played with in San Diego – that convinced her to come to Australia.
“I knew a lot of my friends came here to play in the W-league, so I just finished school last December and I wanted to keep playing,” she said.
“I saw how well she (Boudreau) did here, so I talked to her for a little bit, and then I just decided to come here.”
Another driving factor to leave the USA for new pastures was to prove her worth, with so few players getting drafted out of college into the professional game in the USA.
“It is so competitive in the US for the pro teams that usually unless you’re top of the top, you’re not even gonna get a trial there,” Keane conceded.
“I knew I just wanted to keep playing, and if I couldn’t play there then I wanted to play somewhere else.
“I kind of wanted a challenge, and it’s been great.”
It is a decision that, at least for the moment, is paying dividends for both player and club, with Keane in form and also enjoying life in Melbourne.
And it would only get better with a bit of silverware come the end of the season.
“It’s been great. The girls have been beyond welcoming, I had no idea anyone could be so nice to someone coming in from [abroad] and it’s been great,” Keane admitted.
“We have a goal obviously of winning the league, but I mean who doesn’t?”
“We just have to focus a game at a time, and then we’ll be good.”
Photo: Adrian Shaw