"Basically, every day you're not training, you're in the gym. It's definitely a good chance to develop my game. I'm looking forward to the whole experience of being overseas, I haven't travelled very far before. I think I'm as prepared as I ever will be.
"I'm looking forward to building friendships and making those bonds, but also smashing teams. I'm extremely competitive, in everything, I can't stand losing. It's important to have that, but not to the point that [winning] is all that matters."
Her ultimate goal was to be spotted by an English scout while in the United States, which would hopefully lead to a career playing for an English club.
She has played football since she was 6.
"It was through my parents, mum played when she was younger. They've been really supportive, I definitely wouldn't be doing this without them."
She played centre midfield and enjoyed being "the playmaker". When asked why she played football, she said she could not imagine doing anything else.
"I like being able to control the game, you need to be fit and have good awareness [to do well in midfield]."
Merriman has quite the footballing CV. She has played in Rotorua representative teams, been selected for regional, federation and national talent centres and was a member of the Oceania Futsal Tournament winning team in 2012. With the Western Heights High School girls' team she finished second at nationals in 2014 and she was a WaiBop Women's Premier League winner with Rotorua United in 2016.
She also enjoys taking on leadership roles, which she said helped her "stay calm" during the game. She captained Rotorua United and Western Heights last year and this year she is vice captain of Tauranga City United.
Her favourite players are two men renowned for the extra work they would put it in during and after practices, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"I just like the way they play, I try to relate to that. I try to train as much as I can."
