The Point Cook Women’s North West 13/14 Soccer side will compete in a grand final in just its second season. 86860_01 Picture: CONTRIBUTED
ON the eve of the Football Federation of Victoria women’s soccer season, the future was looking bleak for Point Cook.
In just its second year, the club had struggled to find enough numbers for its North West 13/14 Girls’ side, and it seemed as though the team would have to fold.
With only 11 players committed, coach Jason Van Berkel went on a recruiting drive and was able to convince another four girls to join the team.
Seventeen wins and one draw later, the girls are preparing to play in a grand final this weekend.
After a dominating season on the pitch, Van Berkel said it had been great to see the side do so well, especially considering a number of the players had not played soccer before this year.
“The core of the team, about seven or eight girls from last year were settled into key positions, but about half of them had never played before,” he said.
“It came down to confidence really. We played in a girls’ tournament up in Ballarat in March and we did reasonably well there. I think the confidence levels just grew match by match. We started winning, and the girls just never looked back.”
Throughout the season, Point Cook has scored 60 goals and only conceded six.
With one game left to add to their tally, Van Berkel said the group was looking forward to the biggest match of the season.
“We are very excited. We are a bit nervous as well,” he said.
“Fingers crossed, we can do well and give a good account of ourselves in the final. As long as the girls try their best, you can’t ask for much more than that.”
The good news doesn’t stop there for Point Cook, with the club planning to add its first senior teams in the new season.
At this stage, there could be as many as three men’s teams and one women’s team with anyone interested in participating encouraged to contact the club via its website. http://www.pointcooksoccerclub.org/contact.
