IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior forward Samantha Tawharu has been called up to join the New Zealand national football team and will compete in friendly matches against Canada during the Oct. 18-26 FIFA Window.
Tawharu will join New Zealand’s Football Ferns immediately following Iowa’s Senior Day soccer match against Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT). She is one of nine Hawkeye seniors that will be recognized at the Iowa Soccer Complex prior to the game.
“We are excited for Sammy to get this opportunity to be called into her first full national team camp,” said Iowa head coach Dave Diianni. “She has an abundance of youth national team experience, playing in two World Cups, so this is a natural progression for her development. The Hawkeye family wishes her well as she represents Iowa and New Zealand against the gold medal champions.”
Tawharu is a native of Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. She was a two-time New Zealand National team member and played on the FIFA U17 and U20 Women’s World Cup teams prior to joining the Hawkeyes in January, 2019.
She has played in 51 games as a Hawkeye, scoring eight goals and 24 points. She was named to the 2020 Big Ten All-Tournament team following Iowa’s championship run and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
