Written by Josh McGirr (Club Administrator)
We have been here before. Four years ago, same venue, different opposition. What a cracking game of football that was. Aimee Phillips (currently plying her trade for Cardiff Met in Wales) scored a hat trick and the girls played fantastic, but eventually succumbed to a hardened Coastal Spirit (and an unplayable Annalie Longo).
Illustrative of the player turnover at Universities, only two players from that team are still part of the roster (Rachel Brodie and Holly Pascoe), the latter of which has now headed back to the U.S and unfortunately will miss the final. Holly has had a fantastic season even by her own high standards, scoring 8 goals in 8 games in the WPL and Reta Fitzpatrick Cup. Such is her character though, she'd be the first to pass the praise on to the coaching team and her team mates. And to a large extent this is true, a large influx of players this year has meant the competition for a starting spot has never been higher, a headache for the coaching team but what a great headache to have.
Every player in this squad has undoubted talent, something that we didn't quite show in the first round of the WPL, picking up a solitary point. However, the girls knew they were far better than that standard and worked tremendously as a group to improve. The second round showed the beginning of that improvement picking up four points, including a terrific end to end game against Coastal, which ended 1-1. If the second round was the entree, then the final round was the main course and dessert together! Four games, four wins, 100% win record - incredible.
It is a massive shame that there are only five teams competing in the Women's Premier League. Though, there is some amazing work being done to remedy this at both club and federation level, with the goal being to encourage more women to play football. Annalie Longo in particular has done great in her first few years as Women's Development Officer, introducing the Pride Academy and working with Alan Walker to deliver a new framework that sees clubs more directly involved in running training camps that are more inclusive and provide for a larger number of females to participate.
Enough of football politics though, you can only play within the conditions you are presented, and oh how we rose to the occasion. The semi final saw us take on Coastal Spirit, the current holders of the Reta Fitzpatrick Cup. A great start saw us take an early lead and before we knew it we were 3-1 up. We had one hand on a ticket to the final. But Coastal didn't finish top of the table on a whim, they are a determined bunch and they soon rallied. A late double salvo saw the game heading to extra time. At this point, many teams would crumble. To be leading for the majority of the game and concede late to have to play extra time takes a lot of the fight out of you. But that's where this group showed their grit. The belief within this camp is huge, they feel like they can win every game and that's what they needed to battle for that spot in the final. A mercurial finish from Holly Pascoe into the top bins saw the game edge our way before some great interplay allowed Ashleigh Leonard to put the game to bed. We did it, we beat the holders and we are into the final.
One more game. One shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you've ever wanted, moms spaghet-- ok enough of that.
But seriously, if i have one thing to say to our girls before the final it's this:
You've made the final. You've already made the club, your parents, your friends proud. For a club going through monumental change, full of doubt and uncertainty, you have been a shining light and ray of hope that all of the hard work is worth it. From the volunteers getting up at 7am to set up fields, the committee's late night meetings, session prep from your coaches and parents driving halfway across town each week; getting to watch a Reta Fitzpatrick Cup Final featuring a Universities team is a great reward. One more game to cement your place in UC Football history.
Enjoy the occasion, you've earned it.
We have been here before. Four years ago, same venue, different opposition. What a cracking game of football that was. Aimee Phillips (currently plying her trade for Cardiff Met in Wales) scored a hat trick and the girls played fantastic, but eventually succumbed to a hardened Coastal Spirit (and an unplayable Annalie Longo).
Illustrative of the player turnover at Universities, only two players from that team are still part of the roster (Rachel Brodie and Holly Pascoe), the latter of which has now headed back to the U.S and unfortunately will miss the final. Holly has had a fantastic season even by her own high standards, scoring 8 goals in 8 games in the WPL and Reta Fitzpatrick Cup. Such is her character though, she'd be the first to pass the praise on to the coaching team and her team mates. And to a large extent this is true, a large influx of players this year has meant the competition for a starting spot has never been higher, a headache for the coaching team but what a great headache to have.
Every player in this squad has undoubted talent, something that we didn't quite show in the first round of the WPL, picking up a solitary point. However, the girls knew they were far better than that standard and worked tremendously as a group to improve. The second round showed the beginning of that improvement picking up four points, including a terrific end to end game against Coastal, which ended 1-1. If the second round was the entree, then the final round was the main course and dessert together! Four games, four wins, 100% win record - incredible.
It is a massive shame that there are only five teams competing in the Women's Premier League. Though, there is some amazing work being done to remedy this at both club and federation level, with the goal being to encourage more women to play football. Annalie Longo in particular has done great in her first few years as Women's Development Officer, introducing the Pride Academy and working with Alan Walker to deliver a new framework that sees clubs more directly involved in running training camps that are more inclusive and provide for a larger number of females to participate.
Enough of football politics though, you can only play within the conditions you are presented, and oh how we rose to the occasion. The semi final saw us take on Coastal Spirit, the current holders of the Reta Fitzpatrick Cup. A great start saw us take an early lead and before we knew it we were 3-1 up. We had one hand on a ticket to the final. But Coastal didn't finish top of the table on a whim, they are a determined bunch and they soon rallied. A late double salvo saw the game heading to extra time. At this point, many teams would crumble. To be leading for the majority of the game and concede late to have to play extra time takes a lot of the fight out of you. But that's where this group showed their grit. The belief within this camp is huge, they feel like they can win every game and that's what they needed to battle for that spot in the final. A mercurial finish from Holly Pascoe into the top bins saw the game edge our way before some great interplay allowed Ashleigh Leonard to put the game to bed. We did it, we beat the holders and we are into the final.
One more game. One shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you've ever wanted, moms spaghet-- ok enough of that.
But seriously, if i have one thing to say to our girls before the final it's this:
You've made the final. You've already made the club, your parents, your friends proud. For a club going through monumental change, full of doubt and uncertainty, you have been a shining light and ray of hope that all of the hard work is worth it. From the volunteers getting up at 7am to set up fields, the committee's late night meetings, session prep from your coaches and parents driving halfway across town each week; getting to watch a Reta Fitzpatrick Cup Final featuring a Universities team is a great reward. One more game to cement your place in UC Football history.
Enjoy the occasion, you've earned it.