Futsal: Tauranga's Amy Harrison enjoys National tertiary championships experience

Tauranga's Amy Harrison in goal for The University of Waikato at the National Tertiary Futsal Championships. Photo / Steff Jordaan Photography

When Tauranga footballer Amy Harrison crosses over to futsal she notices some key differences between the codes.

"The pace is a lot quicker, you have to think and react a lot quicker. There is less time to think about how you going to start the attack and that sort of pressure is really enjoyable for me. It is a different type of keeping too, you use your feet a lot more and do a lot more splits saves," she says.

This quick-thinking action was what she had to really put into practise last week while competing at the National Tertiary Futsal Championships at Trustpower Arena from Thursday to Sunday.

Harrison was the goalkeeper for the University of Waikato women's team, which finished fifth of five teams.

The fourth edition of the event included men's and women's teams from Auckland University of Technology, Massey University, the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato and Victoria University of Wellington.

The women's final was won by Victoria, who beat Massey 4-0 while the University of Auckland won the men's final, beating Waikato.

Harrison, a psychology student at Waikato, also plays for Tauranga Blue Rovers in senior football and says the futsal tournament is a great chance to play a different type of game.

"It was a cool opportunity to represent the university and to play at an elite level against other tertiary level people and alongside top level and up and coming futsal players," she said.

"The whole attitude and skill level of the players was really awesome. Sometimes you go to tournament and there is one good team and the rest are social players.

"I'm quite content with where I am with football. I am coaching here and there and that works well with my studies."

Harrison will be a part of the Bay of Plenty under-19 team to compete at the National Youth Futsal Championships in Wellington in July.