North Carolina Courage defender Abby Erceg has announced her retirement from the New Zealand national team. There, she served as captain since 2014 and was the first player from New Zealand to play in 100 international matches. Erceg reached that benchmark on October 25 in 2014 at the OFC Nations Cup. “I will continue to enjoy a professional career at a club level which I still find great joy in and I look forward to taking on that endeavor in the coming years,” Erceg posted on her Instagram account. “I say thank you to anyone involved in my international career no matter how big or small your role was, you have helped achieve the successes that I have been so fortunate to find.” Erceg earned her first full international cap on November 14 against China at only 17 years old in 2006. She also played at the 2006 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup that year. The Whangarei, New Zealand native represented her country in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cups in China, Germany and Canada. She also represented her country in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games in Beijing, London and Rio. In 2008’s Olympics, Erceg was on a New Zealand team that reached the quarterfinals, which was the Football Ferns’ first ever knockout game in a FIFA tournament. In between those appearances, she had also become the youngest player representing New Zealand to reach 50 caps. Erceg was 21 years old and playing in the Cyprus Cup when she reached this accomplishment. Overall, Erceg made 130 national appearances, while adding six goals. The defender also picked up accolades along the way in her tenured international career, including the title of New Zealand Football Young Player of the Year in 2007. Erceg and the North Carolina Courage will host Portland Thorns FC on Saturday, April 22 in their inaugural home opener at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC. For ticket information, please call our box office at 919-459-8144 or go online to NCFCtix.com.
About North Carolina Courage
The North Carolina Courage is a professional women’s soccer team that plays in the NWSL (Women’s First Division). NC Courage, the reigning NWSL champion, plays their home games at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC. For more information, please visit www.www.nccourage.com or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
