WCSSA Winter: Year 7-10 Girls Soccer
A squad of 13 girls participated in the 2009 WCSSA Soccer tournament hosted by Kardinia International College on Wednesday 29th July. The team was selected from year’s 7-10 students. The Girls took on Kings Christian College, Creek Street No.1&2, and Melton Christian College. After going down 1-0 in game 1, the Girls were all up from there drawing 0-0 in fiercely fought battle in game 2 and winning the next 2 games. After finishing 2nd in pool A they played off for 3rd position (out of 8 teams) and were triumphant!
The most pleasing aspect from a coach’s perspective was the sheer joy on the girls’ faces throughout the tournament as they began to play as a team, stay to an organised structural ‘positional play’, and celebrate the success they the pulled off as a unit. They learnt how to stay to a team structure, quick decision-making, supporting team mates, encouragement, sportsmanship, perseverance and the enjoyment of physical activity. All of these elements and more are apart of the sporting experience and play a major role for character development. This is what we want our warrior students to experience when they compete against other schools.
Alex Johnson led the team well as captain with her encouragement of other players and her run through the mid-field. Cassie Brown played a supportive role in the centre and defence, Nicola Gordon showed off her foot and passing skills which enhanced with each game setting up goals, scoring one herself and ran hard for the team during all matches. Sjaan Warren and Kim Terpstra were an effective duo up forward as strikers constantly hassling opposition players trapping the ball in the attacking half and maintaining pressure to allow the Warriors to maintain ascendency in all respective matches. Shaylie Manning played her role in defence linking up with fellow defenders Annie Cassidy (whose booming left foot allowed the team to clear the ball from the danger zone in the opposition’s attacking half) and Stephanie Wilson. Eboni and Indiah Coliashaw both contributed well as sweeping defenders pushing up onto the wing allowing the mid-field to push the ball forward. Jenny Luong was awarded the best and fairest player due to her fantastic work ethic, foot skills, and encouragement of others, her positive attitude. Isobelle played in defence often interchanging with the others off the bench gaining from the experience for next year. Mel Lendon was our reliable goal keeper who did a wonderful job linking up with her defenders to drive the ball out to the waiting mid-field. All in all a wonderful learning performance by the secondary girls’s soccer team for WCSSA 2009.
Coach Rees
