Nerves of steel took Wairarapa College to a nail-biting sudden death penalty shootout win over Diocesan School in their semifinal match at the Federation Cup national secondary schoolgirls tournament at Clareville yesterday.
To say it was a close-fought affair would be the under-statement of the year. It was 0-0 at the end of ordinary time and 5-5 at the conclusion of the first penalty shootout which saw five players from each team shoot from the penalty spot.
So for the second successive day Wairarapa College's fate depended on a sudden death penalty shootout and after the first attempt from each side was successful Diocesan School's second was comfortably saved by Wairarapa College goalkeeper Annemieke Van Vliet.
That put national age group rep Morgan Percy in the limelight and she made no mistake, which kept alive the dream of Wairarapa College becoming only the third team in Federation Cup history to win the title in two successive years.
They will need to beat St Cuthbert's today in a final at 1.30pm. St Cuthbert also had an exciting semifinal, scoring from a last-minute penalty corner to beat Rangi Ruru 1-0.
Wairarapa College had a clear advantage in both territory and possession but again lacked success at the penalty corners. They had nine of them to Diocesan School's one without ever really threatening the goal.
It did, however, speak volumes for the character and resolve of the Wairarapa College players that, come the penalty shootouts, they were successful with all seven of their shots.
Despite the best efforts of Diocesan School goalkeeper Lydia Powrie none of them looked like missing.
Percy was outstanding for Wairarapa College in general play, tackling strongly and linking well with her supports, and Megan Hull was a commanding figure in midfield, often intercepting opposition ball and invariably making good metreage when on the attack. Michael O'Connor and Katherine van Woerkom worked tirelessly on defence and both Emma Smith and Brigette Mossman were elusive on the break.
Last year's finalists, Diocesan played a long passing game and looked dangerous whenever their speedy forwards were given space in which to move.
Meanwhile, the Wairarapa College boys first XI might have lost 5-1 to Westlake Boys in their semifinal at the Rankin Cup national tournament at Napier yesterday, but finishing either third or fourth will make this their best result at this tourney since 1974, when they were joint winners with Christchurch Boys.
Westlake led 2-0 after an evenly-contested first half which saw Wairarapa College create some excellent scoring opportunities but Westlake had the better of the second spell.