Since then, the two midfielders have taken very different paths.
Cooney-Cross quickly established herself as an A-League Women and Matildas starlet and moved first to Sweden, then Arsenal.
Late bloomer Gomez battled at Western Sydney and Wellington before finding her place at the Central Coast Mariners.
But later this month, the pair's paths will cross again, with Gomez called up for upcoming friendlies against Argentina.
"Playing with Kyra would be awesome," Gomez told AAP.
"I've been to school with her, I've played with her in the younger years, but I haven't had the opportunity to play with her (at senior level).
"I know she's grown so much as a person and player."
But so has Gomez.
After injury robbed Gomez of her first shot at the Matildas, the midfielder set her sights on another chance.
Last November, Gomez had just been called up for friendlies against Brazil and Taiwan when she suffered a torn MCL in a bad tackle, sidelining her for 12 weeks.
Six months on, she is the form midfielder of the A-League Women, and was called up after steering Central Coast into the grand final.
"It definitely is more special now," she said.
"The first call-up, it was quite a shock and a lot to take in, but this time around it's sunk in a bit and I had the feeling that I could have gotten called up again.
"So I'm more mentally ready to go into that experience and take that opportunity on."
Gomez is adamant the extended ALW season, which now includes 23 regular-season games plus finals, has accelerated her development.
"My whole life I've been in and out of junior Matildas camps, not really picked for the actual team and in the A-League, being in the team, not playing any minutes, so I've really grown stronger as a person and player," she said.
"It has been challenging but it has made me want to push more and has put some fire into me - Â always wanting to be on the pitch, always wanting to improve and be the best.
"I'm just really proud of myself throughout my whole journey. It's been challenging, but to get now this reward is an awesome feeling."
The upcoming camp is set to be interim coach Tom Sermanni's last with Joe Montemurro expected to take the reins afterwards.
Gomez hopes to leave a lasting impression.
"There's some top players in the Matildas, so I'm just hoping to do whatever I can to bring some sort of spark," she said.
"I am more now of an attacking player who likes to drive, take on players and shoot as well.
"I'm hoping to leave something there to hopefully be remembered by."
But first, Gomez will spearhead Central Coast's bid to upset Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Sunday.
"I haven't experienced anything like this, being in the grand final," she said.
"I'm super excited."
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