If a player is at their most productive when settled and happy off the field, then Newcastle Jets striker Jen Hoy is set for a prolific season.
Signed just before the start of the season as the Jets marquee recruit, Hoy was brought in to help the Jets in the scoring department. It certainly has been an ongoing problem area for the Novocastrians. Last year, despite finishing just three points outside the semi-finals, Newcastle tallied a competition-low nine goals in 12 matches.
But so far the 25-year-old has more than delivered, scoring three times in the past three outings. And Hoy, in her first overseas football adventure, is lapping up the relaxed beach-side living in Newcastle, helped in part by the presence of several fellow Americans, including Chicago Red Stars teammate Arin Gilliland.
“I absolutely love it here, it is such a nice place,” Hoy said, when asked about her lifestyle in Newcastle. “The people are so nice, the weather, the lifestyle, the food, just everything is great. I honestly didn’t imagine it would be this good.”
And it has been an equally comfortable transition on the field for Hoy. Newcastle have picked up two wins from their five matches, and the Pennsylvania native is optimistic there is much more to come for the Jets.
“I feel in a good place here and it’s a really good group,” Hoys says with genuine enthusiasm in her voice. “We have had quite a few games now so I feel quite settled within the team. We started the season ok, but we have been disappointed with the past few results and are keen to turn that around.”
Incredibly, Hoy is one of eight Chicago Red Stars’ personnel Down Under for this summer’s edition of the Westfield W-League. Hoy has spent the past four seasons representing the club from the Windy City in USA’s National Women’s Soccer League, since graduating from New Jersey’s prestigious Princeton University with a degree in Economics.
Hoy plays alongside USA poster-star Christen Press in the Red Stars’ forward line, but she is very much the focal point of Newcastle’s 4-2-3-1 formation. And Hoy is more than happy with the responsibility of leading the line.
“I know what my role is here and within the team, and I have discussed that with the coaching staff quite a bit. As a striker you always want to score goals. I’m hungry to do just that and help the team achieve this season.”
