Over the weekend, people from all over Australia came together in their communities to rally against gender-based violence. This rally-cry was also brought to the soccer pitch.
Across the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League, women’s teams were wearing orange armbands in solidarity with women who have been victims of violence.
A terrifying 31 women have been killed since the start of 2024 and most of them at the hands of someone they knew and who they should have been able to trust.
Kyneton Ranges Women’s soccer team linked arms and bowed their heads in a minute’s silence at the start of their two matchups this weekend in Bendigo and wore the orange armbands with pride.
Kyneton women’s Div 1 clash with Eaglehawk was a well-fought match and the orange armbands led the heart for the teams.
Kyneton, with only 10 players on the pitch, played hard and with the team welcoming back Isha Kuyateh to the gloves, stood firm between the goal posts for the game.
Keeping locked in the backline was Ava Coleman, captain Bec Cole and Maddie Hacche who fielded the incoming balls from Eaglehawk with grace and determination, sending balls up the pitch to the welcoming midfield and forwards Remy McTaggart, Zara Hooppell, Lorelei Cook, Lucy Hebborn, Bronte Randell and Miranda Minson.
It was a hard game, it was a solid game, but by the time the Ref’s last three whistles blew Kyneton was unable to bring goals to their side of the ledger with the final score going down to Eaglehawk, 0-3.
Kyneton women’s Div 2 matched up with Epsom Stingers, also wearing the orange armbands, and with the team having no subs, they played with all their heart and soul.
There were first-time keepers donning the gloves, Lucy Hebborn and Lucy ‘OG’ Campbell, keeping any attempts on goal out, and the solid impenetrable backline with Bec Cole, Miranda Minson, Remy McTaggart and Mon O’Toole making sure the Epson forwards didn’t stand a chance getting to the top of the box.
All the midfields were kept very busy throughout the 90 minutes and Ivy Morris-Perrott, Simone Hooppell, Lenka Thompson and Lucy Campbell were on their toes ready to pounce and send the ball to the fabulous forwards in Emma Tricarico and Sian Hooppell who were stellar at finding the back of the net.
The half-time swaps bringing defenders Mon O’Toole and Miranda Minson to the front proved equally as fruitful with both securing numerous goals for the Ranges, clicking the score over to double figures.
There was a full women’s squad with Bec Cole and Simone Hooppell taking on the coaches role and putting forward a 1-3-4-2 formation to take home the glory at the last whistle, 0-11.
