Sport: Year 8 Boys Soccer
Upper Hume Runners Up
Our top Year 8 soccer players played seven matches at the Upper Hume Soccer Wodonga on Thursday 15th May.
Our Boys had a huge day at Willow Park, finishing Runner-Up out of six schools, despite missing three key players to illness or injury (Noah Anderson, Luke Pensak and Teo Valle) plus Mason Skermer to travel..
The Boys won their pool thanks to a 5-1 demolition of the Wodonga Middle Years College B team, and then advanced to the Final after a 0-0 draw with Galen College who had stacked their team with three girls (after being unable to field a girls team), two of whom were the Boys team’s best players.
After holding Catholic College Wodonga to 0-1 at half time of the Final, CCW kicked away and we went down 0-5.
Captain, and Murray United player Zak Winn was the star, and probably the most talented player at the whole carnival. The brilliant midfielder scored 2 goals in the space of five minutes in the 1st match, then scored another in the 2nd half before Coach Emilio Miliankos-King took him off for a rest.
Winn’s ability to dribble and beat defenders is something special. Cool, relaxed, like he's in slow motion. There were other skilled players from other schools on the day (Catholic College had over half a dozen of his Murray United teammates) but none were as beautiful to watch as he was.
The other goal scorers were Angus Fraser and Ky Press with one each. Fraser, a gun Footballer but a natural at Soccer too, controlled a ball with his chest in the box then slammed one in. Press tapped one in seconds after entering the pitch after a rest.
Of the others, none were as dangerous as striker Jobel Lijo Matthew. His signature move was taking it outside the box on the left side, cutting his defender inside, and hitting on his left boot. He cracked an almost-screamer into the near upright, another into the crossbar, and could have had 2 more as well.
Others to almost score were Lane Sloan who creamed a shot just left, Dodge Lawrey who did everything but hit it away from the keeper, and speedy winger Will Boulton who tapped one just left of the upright.
A bunch of good Footballers were important. Logan Wilson was strong as Goalkeeper, Nick Jones as a defensive midfielder, Lane Sloan and Angus Fraser as hard running midfielders, and Austin Whitehead a strong big defender.
The importance of Lucas Carson-McIlroy, the General of the defence, was revealed when he left the pitch at halftime of the Final, and the score went from 0-1 to 0-3 within about 30 seconds.
Over at Kelly Park, the Girls battled hard. Turning up expecting to play 2 games, they suddenly learned they were now scheduled for 4, with Galen’s withdrawal removing the Pools and making a full Round Robin.
Three gun Footballers were said to be the stars. Mia Simpson (Wangaratta Rovers and Tigers) was the star, scoring their only goal, and almost scoring 2 others.
Bella Boulton (Wangaratta Rovers) was also said to be fantastic using her pace and skill, and Captain Paige-Lee Dummett (Gun Wangaratta Rovers and Tigers Footballer) was too, especially when swapping her Goalkeeper suit and becoming a playmaker
Special mention to Jacinta Reynolds, who was recruited by the team as she walked throgh the gates, literally minutes before the Bus departed. The team were 2 players short and were scrambling. Jacinta, despite knowing nothing about Soccer, and never having represented the school in a Sport before, jumped on the Bus and played every match. It is one of the great acts of School Spirit seen in years.
Thanks to all players for a great showing. Big thank you to Ash Clayton for taking the Girls. Thanks to the helpers for the Girls team - Year 9s Ruby O’Kane (Central Umpire and Coach) and Inanay Gilson (Lines and Coach). And for the Boys - Year 11 Emilio Miliankos-King (Central Umpire and Coach) and Year 9 Darcy Waide (Linesman).
Jud Mullins
Sport Coordinator
