Soccer: White shines as Junior Ferns qualify for Japan

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New Zealand captain Rosie White scored four goals in a 12-0 win over Samoa in Mangere today, securing qualification for the Fifa under-20 women's World Cup.

The Junior Football Ferns made sure of their ticket to the 16-team finals with a blistering start on the final day of the Oceania under-20 women's championships, going on to grab their third win from three and top spot in the tournament.

White, who bagged her fifth international hat-trick at all levels of the game, has now scored 37 goals in 65 international matches for New Zealand.

"I was happy with that," White said. "We had so many opportunities it's to get good a few away put away. I haven't really had much time with the team so it's been good to be in camp for a week and getting to know the girls."

White, a veteran of the 2008 and 2010 Junior Football Ferns side that went to Chile and Germany, was delighted with her team's performance and excited by the prospect of another World Cup appearance.

"We put on a good performance in our last game and we're excited and happy and we can't wait to go to Japan," White said. "We've got quite a lot of experience and I think we'll do well, but there is a lot of room for improvement."

White finished with the golden boot crown with eight goals from three games, while Kate Loye won the tournament's best player award and custodian Erin Nayler snared the golden gloves award as best goalkeeper.

Olivia Chance, who also scored a hat-trick, opened the scoring today in the fifth minute before Stephanie Skilton notched a rapid fire double to make it 3-0. The Ferns had doubled that lead by halftime, and they scored six more after the break to complete a lop-sided win.

New Zealand join fellow qualifiers Argentina, Brazil, Canada, United States, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, China and hosts Japan at the finals, beginning in August.