But the Southern United defender is hardly a stranger to top level football, having represented Samoa since she was 15.
The 23-year-old was born in Samoa and moved to Auckland with her family when she was 5.
Growing up, Tuatagaloa started playing football to follow her older sister — and her four younger siblings joined too — and began playing for the Three Kings United at 8.
As a teenager, she moved to Papakura and was later selected for the Samoan under-16 team in 2017.
Two years later she was selected for the national team and said it had been a "huge privilege" to represent her homeland.
"I'm very grateful to be able to have the gift to represent my country in football and the sport that I love to play," Tuatagaloa said.
"It does become challenging sometimes, but ... I'm very proud of being able to represent my country."
Tuatagaloa, who has earned about 20 caps, played in the Pacific Games in 2019, where Samoa finished runners up, and loved playing in Olympic qualifiers in Samoa earlier this year.
"Being able to play at home, and being able to play in front of your people, and the support, is unmatched.
"But what I love about playing for that team is just the team-mates I meet, and the friendships ... and the experience of being able to play for Samoa."
The fearless centreback and fullback has brought her international experience and added plenty to Southern United this season.
The national league standard was high and she enjoyed playing against the different skill sets teams from throughout the country possess.
"Also within my team, I feel like everyone is such a great player and being able to train and play with them helps me as well to become a better player."
Southern United had a tough task last weekend, playing two games in two days to make up for a postponed game in Wellington.
But they were up to the challenge, securing their first wins: a 2-1 victory against Wellington United and a thumping of Central 8-1.
Tuatagaloa, who has played for Otago University for the past three seasons, said Southern, who sit in seventh, went on the road with the aim of returning with six points and were proud of their performances.
They need more of that, and to expose more of their strengths, when they host fourth placed West Coast Rangers at Logan Park tomorrow.
Tuatagaloa moved to Dunedin to study at the University of Otago. She will graduate next month with a bachelor of arts in Pacific and global studies and planned to return to Auckland to complete a post graduate degree.
