WA's Ischia Brooking named U16 Player of the Tournament at the National Youth Championships for Girls
Gold Fields WA State player Ischia Brooking has been crowned U16s Player of the Tournament at the National Youth Championships for Girls.
And making Ischia's achievement even more special is that she is still only aged 13.
Ischia, who is in Football West's Hyundai NTC program and plays in the NPLWA - Women's competition, enjoyed an outstanding week in Coffs Harbour despite WA's final two days being washed out by the rain.
Gold Fields WA State Team U16 head coach Sam Geddes said: "Ischia is a true pleasure to coach and everybody in the squad is delighted she has won this award.
"She has grown as a player and her maturity has developed over the course of the year, and this was emphasised in the second half against Victoria when she took the game by the scruff of the neck.
"For a girl of 13, it's all the more remarkable. And even though she is so young, the other player look up to her and she is a great leader."
On the pitch today, Queensland Maroon and NSW Metro have been crowned champions after a thrilling final day.
Another gloomy day greeted the players at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium . But while day four of the tournament was abandoned due to severe wet weather, play was able to go ahead on Friday after finals matches were moved to the synthetic pitches.
In the U14 final, NSW Metro took on Queensland having dominated after topping group A with a 100 per cent winning record.
NSW Metro were also looking for a repeat of their 3-1 victory over Queensland in the group stage on Tuesday.
And NSW Metro were able to complete their perfect tournament, downing Queensland 1-0 in the final thanks to Talia Younis’ winner.
Victoria defeated Capital Football in a dramatic penalty shootout in the third v fourth play-off, after Tina Huang and Lucy Cameron had scored in normal time.
In the U16s decider, group A winners Queensland Maroon took on Victoria Blue looking to reverse the result of their opening game of the tournament on Monday when they went down 2-1.
And Kelly Crew’s side did just that, with Grace Kuilamu’s classy second half winner securing a 1-0 victory for Queensland Maroon.
NSW Metro defeated NSW Country in the third v fourth play-off, with Tea Mucenski scoring the only goal.
There were also a number of awards presented at the tournament’s conclusion.
Football Australia Community Refereeing Manager Jacqui Hurford presented the awards for the Referee of the Tournament to Molly Godsell from Football NSW and Courtney Van Diesen from Football Victoria for the U14s and U16s tournaments respectively.
Results
U14s Final – NSW Metro 1 (Talia Younis) defeated Queensland 0
U14s Third v Fourth Play-Off – Victoria 1 (Tina Huang) drew Capital Football 1 (Lucy Cameron) Victoria won on penalties
U16s Final – Queensland Maroon 1 (Grace Kuilamu) defeated Victoria Blue 0
U16s Third v Fourth Play-Off – NSW Metro 1 (Tea Mucenski) defeated NSW Country 0
Award winners
U16s Player of the Tournament – Ischia Brooking (Western Australia)
U14s Player of the Tournament – Talia Younis (NSW Metro)
U16s Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Jasmine Black (NSW Metro)
U14s Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Georgia Ritchie (Capital Football)
U16s Referee of the Tournament – Courtney Van Diesen (Football Victoria)
U14s Referee of the Tournament – Molly Godsell (Football NSW)