IT’S been a long journey to this point but the Vincentia High School women’s football team are now only two wins away for state glory.
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On Wednesday, August 16, Vincenita High will head up to Valentine Park, Glenwood to play in their semi-final of the New South Wales Combined High Schools 2017 Puma state knock-out football cup.
Here they will take on Maclean High School from 9am for a spot in the decider.
“We've always had a strong contingent of girls coming through the school and done well at a senior level,” Vincentia High School teacher/coach Corey Ryan said.
“But the stars have aligned this year with five core players playing in the top grade for women's Southern and Illawarra Stingrays first grade and they are only 16, 17 and 18 years of age.
“The strength on the ball by playing against women regularly has helped those players immensely.”
To get to this point, Ryan admits its been an amazing journey – taking on schools from all across the state.
“It’s been quite an amazing run, scoring 34 goals and conceding only one, and that one goal was a penalty - meaning no goals conceded in open play,” Ryan said.
“Along the way, we’ve beaten Shoalhaven High School, Ulladulla High School, Moruya High School, Warilla High School, to become South Coast champions, Picnic Point High School, who were the Sydney West champions, then beat Albury High School, who were Riverina champions.
“Now on Wednesday, we are versing Maclean High School, who are Northern NSW champions.
“I'm confident if we can compete and play to our strengths, which is dominating possession and obviously taking our opportunities we can win.
“Our defence has been rock solid all the journey and I expect that to continue.”
If Vincenita High win their semi-final, they will take on the winner of Freshwater High School and Woolloware High School at Cronulla.
“It would be an outstanding achievement to win the state title and I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about it a lot,” Ryan said.
“My goal was always for Vincentia High to be the number one team in the state and in seven years of coaching - this is the schools perfect opportunity.
“It would be the best achievement the schools ever accomplished and I'm super proud that they have made it this far.”
Vincenita High School squad: Bianca Pool, Rhianna Brown, Maddy Moffatt, Emily Laing, Nellie Gray, Teri Milani, Emily Blattner, Jackie Milani, Bronte Trew, Bronte Wright, Alysha Adams, Kiana Ashby, Alanah McLeod, Emma Betts, Matilda Cockrem, Ellie Wright Pederson and Tilhaney Grainger.