A young Rosneath goalkeeper has penned a deal to take her across the pond to America in pursuit of her football dream.

Lauren Wilkes was accepted to Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on a football scholarship.

The 18-year-old flew out to begin the next exciting chapter of her footballing career on Thursday. She will have three days to settle in before embarking on a two week pre-season training camp, culminating in competitive games in Chicago and Illinois — before starting her bachelors degree in criminal justice, with a minor in creative writing and photography on August 24.

Wilkes has a successful youth career behind her, having been part of a Rangers side which won the League, Scottish and League Cups, three years running without losing a game along the way.

She prepared for life with her new team, the Mount Mercy Mustangs, with an intensive 12 week pre-season training programme sent by her new coach, which involved training a minimum of two hours a day on top of continuing her training with Rangers Ladies Squad.

She said: “I am really excited about going over, it is an amazing opportunity.” During pre-season the whole team were tasked with raising a minimum of 500 Dollars each to help buy the team’s training and playing kits and to help with cost of the travel and accommodation required for away games, which includes a tournament in Alabama, Georgia in December.

Her sponsors include Ardencaple Football Club. She has close ties with the club, having started her football career with the first Ardencaple girls football team when she was six.

Where she was under the guidance of Kathryn Donald, who Lauren thanks for starting her goalkeeping career when she was put in goals after the other goalie didn’t turn up.

Wilkes also coached the club’s 2006 boys goalkeepers up until her move to the States.

NK construction in the Isle of Man has also kindly agreed to sponsor Lauren and her Mount Mercy Mustang team.