Simply best in league

September 16 2008

Shepparton News

Young soccer star Jacklyn Lombardozzi has stressed the significance of playing in an all girls' competition after taking out the inaugural North Eastern Soccer League junior girls' award on Saturday.

Lombardozzi, of Shepparton South, polled 22 votes to win the junior girls' (under-14) best and fairest by two votes from Cobram Victory's Annika Mogg and South's Brittany Patafio on 17.

Having also taken out the top goal-scorer award for the division, Lombardozzi played every game in the Shepparton South women's team this season.

League clubs only locked in a women's league three weeks before season kick-off this year, Shepparton South won the minor premiership and is through to this weekend's grand final.

Lombardozzi said it was great to play against girls her age.

``When you play with the boys you don't get much of a touch of the ball,'' she said.

``It was good that the league was brought in this year because we need to do more for soccer with the girls.

``It was really good to step up and play games with the women, to realise what it will be like next year.''

Shepparton South's Ben Mammone completed a double-double on Saturday as he took out the under-12 best and fairest as well as leading goal-scorer for the second year running.

Mammone completed the sweep in the under-11s last year as well, scoring 44 goals and polling 34 votes this campaign to win from Shepparton United's Carl O'Keefe on 21 and Shepparton's Monga Maulidi on 20.

Mammone also scored two goals and polled a best and fairest vote in the under-14s division this season.

``This was my last year in this division and I feel I'm ready for under-14s next year,'' Mammone said.

``I'm looking forward to the challenge.''

Tatura's Jacob Rando won his third best and fairest in four seasons after taking out the under-14 count.

Being switched to play as a striker saw Rando win the leading goal-scorer to boot as he put 44 in the net during the regular season.

Rando polled 22 to votes to win from Shepparton United's Andrew Kyriakou on 21 and Shepparton's Hugh Anderson on 18.

``I'm loving my soccer and I'm always playing whether it's the backyard or the field,'' Rando said.

``I wanted to play as a defender this year, but I was put up forward and scored six goals in the first game.

``Scoring 44 goals in one year was more than my entire soccer combined up until this year.''

Tatura's Cody Sellwood capped a breakthrough season by winning the under-16 best and fairest on Saturday.

Sellwood made his senior debut in men's division one during the season, but played the majority in under-16s where he polled 25 votes to win from Shepparton's Nathan Radevski and United's Justin Kalafatis on 21 votes each.

Sellwood's teammate Sinan Kullukcuoglu was leading goal-scorer in the division with 35.

``The whole team put in this season, there was a good feeling all year and no weak links,'' Sellwood said.

``I'll try and improve my skills and fitness over the off season so I'm ready (for division one) next year.''