It was one of those days when everything seemed to go right. Bundoora United belted Preston Lions 10-0 in the Women’s Premier League on Saturday. It was a tense start, but United led 3-0 at half time before exploding in the second half.
United also welcomed back Melbourne Victory striker Caitlin Friend from injury – she scored twice in 10 minutes when she came on in the second half.
Friend played the first two games of the season, scoring four goals, before heading into surgery for a clean-out of her left knee.
Coach Mark Torcaso says Friend, now with six goals in three games, has been a welcome addition to the team.
“We recruited her knowing about the injury,” Torcaso says. “She’s basically exactly what we needed up front. She’s a great leader and she scores goals.”
Bundoora United sits third on the table with eight wins and three losses. The team has scored 48 goals. Only Casey Comets (49) and the all-conquering South Melbourne (56) have more. With only 11 goals scored against Bundoora United – and Matildas goalkeeper Brianna Davey playing when she can – they’re an impressive unit.
But Torcaso says the biggest challenge this season is mental strength. Bundoora United played Box Hill United in the grand final last year, losing 4-3 on penalties after 120 minutes.
“We got ourselves through to the game easily in the end,” Torcaso says. “We had a fantastic run towards the end of the year and we got into the grand final and could have won it.
“With such a young group the challenge this year is to get the players mentally right. We try to put it in their heads how well we did last year; it was already a big achievement.
“Anything more than that this year would be an amazing result and doing the same would be fantastic as well.
“Don’t forget the fact that you busted your guts trying to win … don’t be too disheartened.”
The team has achieved plenty in a short time. Torcaso has coached them since 2009 and they have been promoted up a division every year since, getting to the premier league in 2011.
“Our aim the first year was to survive, and we did that. And last year we made a grand final,” Torcaso says.
“The list has changed almost every single year and we’ve had to do that to make sure we survive and, unfortunately, we’ve had to upset some people along the way.
“This year we retained every player and brought in a different goalkeeper.
“We just remind the players regularly of the success we’ve had.”
