The Sunshine Coast Strikers, a team of 15 girls from the Sunshine Coast Youth Soccer Association, came together to win the Surrey Mayor's Cup on March 17.
Day one of the tournament saw a close game that ended in a 2-1 win and a second game that ended with an impressive 7-0 victory. The most challenging game was to happen on day two.
Being one of two unbeaten teams, the Strikers played CCB Extreme. a U18 gold division one team. Extreme had lost only one of its regular season 21 games. The game pace was quick with the Extreme holding the majority of the possession and getting the first goal late in the first half.
Down but not out, the Strikers showed incredible determination and stamina in the second half and with two minutes remaining evened the score.
The game ended in a draw and it was time for the dreaded shootout. Morgan Downie was the first Striker to take a shot. She jogged up to the ball with confidence, eyed the net and put a hard kick just inside the right post.
Now keeper Grace Stanhope had to face her very first penalty kick at this level of competition. Standing slightly to one side, Grace gave the shooter a false sense that one side of the net was an easy option. The shooter went for the more open side and Grace pounced on the ball, denying the goal.
Next up for the Strikers was Maryah Paul who wasted no time pounding the ball to the back of the net. The Extreme's second penalty kick found the back of the net as well.
With a chance to put the winning goal in, Kyla Muir stepped up to the ball. For a few seconds, there was no sound. Kyla approached and struck the ball hard and out of the goalie's reach. The Strikers had won the game and tournament.
What makes this win so impressive is that with only one team practice the Strikers beat this high level team consisting of predominantly 17 year olds.
The Strikers were technically a U17 team consisting of 14, 15 and 16 year olds and one 17 year old. Four of the Strikers, including the keeper, had never played at a rep level and a few had never played off-Coast - a testament to the quality of player that exists on the Sunshine Coast.
-Submitted
