Stephanie Roche will consider offers from European clubs if she doesn't receive another opportunity to cut it in the US.
Roche joined the National Women’s Soccer League franchise side Houston Dash in February on the back of her second-place in the FIFA goal of the year competition – her strike only deemed bettered by James Rodriguez’s effort in the World Cup for Colombia against Uruguay.
But her time at the club dramatically ended last week when she was 'waived' from the squad.
The 25-year-old was told by Houston that they needed to free up space on their panel for two defenders - Australian Ellie Brush and Brazilian Camila Martins Pereira – and that meant there was no place for the Dubliner.
Despite this, Roche says she hopes to get another opportunity in the US.
“It was a big surprise for me,” she told RTÉ Sport.
“I thought I’d been doing really well. I’d worked really hard since I got here but that’s the way things work over here.
“It’s very cut-throat and they had to make room for two defenders" - Stephanie Roche
“It’s very cut-throat and they had to make room for two defenders. I was taking an international spot that they needed.
"It was very disappointing and hard for me to take but that’s just the way it goes, I suppose.
"It’s happened quite a few times this year already. Just recently [USA international] Abby Wambach – she was nominated for the female Ballon d’Or last year and she was released from her club a couple of weeks ago.
"She’s going to the World Cup with no club so it’s just the way it works over here. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do – if they need to make changes to the team, it’s all business, there’s no sentiment involved.
"I’d love to be able to stay here and prove myself in the league because I think I’m good enough to play in the league, I’m good enough to be in a team so I’m hoping I might get an opportunity to stay here.
"If I don’t I have had other offers from Europe so I’ll have to think about what I want to do next and what’s best for me as a footballer."
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Very disappointed to finish up with Houston Dash. Impossible to appreciate the highs without experiencing the lows #ToughDay
— Stephanie Roche (@StephanieRoche9) May 20, 2015