New faces look to continue tradition

 

Teo Pellizzeri

September 18 2009

Shepparton News

Another soccer season, another grand final for Shepparton United's women, same old story, right?

Well not for a number of the Blues' team this year as its new-look side takes on Shepparton South on Sunday in the Goulburn North East Football Association grand final at Tatura Park.

United is in the grand final for the sixth consecutive year, but this season's team has a host of new players who have never taken to the field on the biggest day of the women's season.

Rather than its past position as a dominant force at the top of the league, United rose to the minor premiership from a slow start after struggling to even get a team on the park this year.

Former Shepparton South and Numurkah player Jakira Mahuika, 19, was one player who came to United's aid after witnessing the Blues' slow start to the campaign.

Mahuika was coaxed back on to the field by the Blues' stand-in coaches at the time, teenagers Holly Dimstas and Danielle Zeqir.

``I came to watch one of their games and it was pretty shocking,'' Mahuika said.

``They said come and play for us and after that I said okay.''

Coming on and off the bench, 17-year-old Ellie Feiss and 16-year-old Chelsea Beer have been two players whose performances, like the team, improved as the year progressed.

``We've been growing and everyone's been getting better with more games and training together,'' Beer said.

``It's been a really tough year, but we finished on top, it would be great to win this weekend.''

In United's run of six straight grand finals only Shepparton in 2005 has managed to take the title, while the Southerners have never previously made it this far.

``We know South's game style and what to expect,'' Mahuika said.

``It will probably be like last time we played.''

``I just want to go hard, give it everything I've got and not let the girls down,'' Feiss said.

``The experienced players have a lot of impact, they encourage us and keep everything under control.''